Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work

by Dina Denham Smith, Alicia A. Grandey

A captivating blend of cutting-edge scientific evidence and real-world stories providing leaders and managers with proven and practical strategies and tools for navigating today's emotionally taxing workplace.

Broad changes have dramatically disrupted our workplaces and increased the emotional demands on leaders everywhere. Leaders now must support their teams' mental health and burnout (while managing their own), build trust with and motivate a remote and diverse workforce, allay employee fears of obsolescence while driving the integration of new technologies like AI, and demonstrate bottomless sensitivity and compassion while still delivering results at a relentless pace. No wonder leaders are burning out. Emotional labor is a daily unrecognized burden leaders carry and can have significant costs for their health and performance over time.

However, achieving high performance and fulfillment without compromising your well-being is possible, and Emotionally Charged shows you how. Dina Denham Smith and Alicia A. Grandey debunk myths and equip you to handle emotionally loaded work events, from preparing for high-stakes scenarios to managing curveballs and conflicts, supporting distressed employees, and recovering effectively after being drained at work.

Blending real-world cases from leaders and evidence-based insights, Emotionally Charged will help all leaders--from front-line managers to C-Suite execs--manage the new work landscape. Anchored in the science of emotions, Emotionally Charged will equip you with practical strategies and tools to lead successfully and thrive in the new age of work.

Genres: Leadership

272 pages, Hardcover

Published February 18, 2025

Reviews

[Blair Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect mix of evidence based research with practical tools and applications.

[Sabina Nawaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given the shifts in technology and the ways of working, managers need to fundamentally change their jobs – or become irrelevant. Who better to guide managers today than an executive coach and a scientist steeped in real-world examples, research, and practical advice. With alarming increases in job stress and burnout since 2020, managers not only have to navigate charged grounds, often remotely to tend to their workforce but also to manage their own health, wellbeing, and effectiveness. Smith and Grandey provide a roadmap for every manager to unmask their feelings and convert the work of emotional labor from toil to targeted outcomes. A must read.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally Charged is a must-read for leaders looking to build a resilient and motivated team. In a world of increasing uncertainty (or let's be frank, chaos) - the best leaders are able to balance deep empathy with intense pressure to deliver results. I appreciated how this book shared "real-world" cases and research to help leaders (and me!) better support their teams while managing their own well-being.