Headwaters

Using your head in business and life is a given. That’s how you make great progress: think, plan, execute, review results, and think again. With some variation, that’s how it generally goes. Let’s consider why sometimes, though you are using your head and logically managing your business, you feel certain urges that may not seem productive - and how water comes into play.

Torrid Emotions Are Routinely Showery

Suppose one of those thousands of brilliantly crafted automated LinkedIn messages, like the one that reads “Hi Robert J., thought your recent post was interesting. It would be a pleasure to connect with you,” gets a reply. Someone, somewhere receiving the reply is going to feel quite happy. And, if just a few dozen of these affectionate missives get replied to, the recipient will probably weep for joy! Could it be that fortune favors the spammer and not the brave? But on the other more likely hand, if none of those supposedly heartfelt thoughtful personal communications get replied to, then someone, somewhere is feeling down. And, maybe they are feeling so sour that their waterworks begin to flow.

Automate all you like; business is a human endeavor. No humans, no business. It is a simple concept, yet easily forgotten in the age of data analytics, algorithms, big data, and artificial intelligence. Somewhere a thinking, feeling human being is on the receiving end of a request and they are making a decision about it. Computers don’t make decisions to connect to other people, make purchases, or create visions for a brighter future for others to agree upon. People do. Business is a human pursuit - and with that often comes intense ups and downs expressed at the extremes with water in the form of tears.

Tears can say it all at the extremes in business and life. So what are they exactly, and how do they apply to you?

Coat, Rinse, Yowl

All tears have an oily layer that slows evaporation, an aqueous layer that hydrates and provides nutrients, and a mucous layer that provides stability. But not all tears are the same. Did you know there are in fact three kinds of tears? Each type has a different composition and purpose.

Basal tears keep your eyes lubricated, protecting them from dust. Every month about an ounce worth of these tears come out. Another type of tears is called reflex tears. This kind of tear lubricates the eyes when something is irking them – like a pestering eyelash or the aroma of freshly cut onions. They are intended to help you protect your eyes by flushing out irritants. Lastly, there are emotional tears.

Emotional tears can be triggered by many deep feelings beyond joy and sadness. Emotional tears are part of being human. Compassion, sympathy, and pleasure, among other emotions, can also get your cheeks moist. These tears allow your body to get back into balance as they carry stress hormones out of your system. Emotional tears are therapeutic, they stabilize your mood, and they are healthy.

Seeing Our Business

I remember crying tears of joy when I realized I had finally achieved what I considered real success in business. Years of vigorous effort had culminated into doing something I loved successfully with people I admired and appreciated – and, most importantly, it was reciprocated. What an incredible time that was in 2004. I also remember mewling uncontrollably at my desk years later when I was miffed by the utter callousness of a colleague. The ups and downs of business and life can be heart-wrenching. The natural response is tears. Even so, there is still an unfair stigma about weeping at work. Why? Is it the paternalistic paradigm of business we have been born into where we have to be "tough"? Men cry too, albeit a third as much as women do. Is it because we shouldn’t show genuine feelings at work? If that’s the case then our authentic selves truly are suppressed for the sake of appearing "professional."

Letting it out emotionally at work may assist you in seeing your true self, seeing others more clearly, and seeing your business with fresh eyes. If shedding tears is a healthy way to get your body in balance and if business is indeed a human endeavor, it stands to reason that welling up at work may allow you to work well by bringing your business back into balance. Besides, not long after a good blubbering, how do you feel? Generally, more empowered and more productive, right?

Your Head Waters

The headwaters are the upper tributaries of a river. They are the source of the streams that flow forth. As an emotional being, you have headwaters too. They flow forth to protect, clean, and keep you in balance. To deny this aspect of life is suboptimal, especially in this particular time in history when many of us may really need to let it flow. Please, give yourself and others permission to wail, bawl, sob, and whimper when the emotional tears emerge.

You water, I water. It may not feel logical or productive, when in fact it is. So go ahead and embrace the urge to let streams of water flow from your head. It may be good for your business work flow and for maintaining balance in your life. From the headwaters of being human, your head waters. 

Here's to you and your awesome future.

Until then, keep your feet on the board and keep riding your wave!

Robert J. Khoury

CEO Agile Rainmakers