Women is it ever ok to CRY at work?

Sudden meltdowns are understandable, especially under extremely stressful situations. But crying at work isn’t as bad as you think. Here’s why.

Here’s a confession: at some point, almost every day Iam at my desk or in a meeting and feel an urge to burst into tears and become an IRL version of the Kim k crying meme. These office ugly cries can be triggered by anything. My boss not liking my idea or an email I sent prematurely. If you’re guilty of puddle on the keyboard workplace meltdowns too, take heart because we’re not alone.

41% of women report that they’ve cried on the job, according to a survey conducted. A hell a lot of people which made them wonder: what’s the best way to deal with these sob fests? And you can spin those tears into something positive, dare we say, empowering? Put your tissue box aside and find out what we discovered.

Why the cry?

Tears are like the check engine light on your car dashboard. Next time you feel then coming on your slipping out, pay attention. Most women who cry at work aren’t doing so because they’re sad. Really, they’re angry and frustrated. If you can manage to pause in the moment and ID the reason for the waterworks, it can help you come up with constructive ways to rebound faster and get back to being a hundred at work.

So ask yourself key questions: do you feel disrespected? Are you not being given the right resources to do your job? Is someone on your team always taking credit for your work? Then find a way to address the issue, whether that means having a candid convo with HBIC about your needs or confronting that credit hog. Hopefully, this approach will quell your anger and stem tides of tears right then or the next time around.

When to bolt?

While crying is becoming more acceptable in certain workplaces, the truth is that in plenty of jobs, it’s still a no no. So while your red eyes aren’t shameful, emotions are contagious and in order to be seen as a kick ass co worker, you need to be courteous to your colleagues.

So a good rule of thumb: a few tears, it’s okay to stay put. But if you’re sobbing like you’re in a telenovela, find privacy stat head to a bathroom stall or the stairwell, or take a quick walk.

Talk it out

Old school thinking dictates that emotions should be left out of the workplace, but a more evolved perspective suggests that being honest about your feels shows integrity, self awareness, and authenticity, which give you major ups in any situation. So if your co worker finds you blotting your face, don’t wait for them to say something. Own your waterworks, whether they’re personal or professional.

If your reasons for tears are intimate, no need to share the gory details, but a brief version I’m going through a family emergency will stop your colleagues from freaking if you don’t answer an email ASAP. Same goes for your boss fight the urge to apologise and instead say I was disturbed by x, y, or z.

A caring leader will respect your candour and view you as someone with high emotional intelligence who’s in tune with her needs. Hell, if things go well, this initially awkward moment might bring you closer to your colleagues, earning you on the job all star status.