OFFLINE IS THE NEW ONLINE 😎

Your Feelings Are Your Superpower at Work (and in Networking)

We’ve all been told to “keep emotions out of it.” Stay cool, stay sharp, never let ‘em see you sweat.
But in real life—whether you’re at work, a networking mixer, or a casual coffee with someone new—emotions run the show.

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, has spent over 20 years studying how feelings shape performance, trust, and connection. His advice: don’t leave your feelings at the door—learn to work with them.

Understanding Your Emotions (Since No One Teaches Us This)

Your emotions aren’t random; they’re data. They signal what matters, what’s working, and what’s not. The goal isn’t to suppress them—it’s to understand and manage them so they help you connect, not create distance.

Here’s a breakdown, inspired by Kaylah Wilton’s simple, powerful definitions:

  • Anger → Energy with a purpose. It shows up when your values, boundaries, or sense of justice are challenged. Use it to fuel positive change.

  • Guilt → A sign your actions don’t match your values. Let it guide you back into alignment, not punish you.

  • Frustration → Feeling stuck between effort and outcome. Signals something needs to change—your approach or your expectations.

  • Boredom → Unused creative energy. Your brain is craving something meaningful.

  • Jealousy → Often about feeling you can’t have something, not that you want what someone else has. Instead of comparing, ask what’s actually stopping you.

  • Overthinking → Your brain’s attempt to control uncertainty. Trust that you can handle what comes instead of burning energy trying to control it all.

  • Grief → Love with nowhere to go. Let yourself feel it—pushing it away only makes it heavier.

  • Fear → Your mind’s way of trying to protect you. Learn to tell the difference between real danger and the discomfort that leads to growth.

  • Sadness → Your mind slowing down to process what’s happened. Feeling it isn’t weakness—it’s healing.

  • Loneliness → A craving for connection. A nudge to reach out to those who make you feel seen and understood.

  • Disappointment → Something didn’t meet your expectations. Adjust—don’t shut down.

Why Emotional Intelligence Wins IRL

According to Brackett, people with strong emotion skills:

  • Recover quickly from setbacks.

  • Keep conversations open, even in disagreement.

  • Inspire trust through calm energy in tense moments.

In networking terms, they’re the people others want to introduce, collaborate with, and keep in their circle.

Marc Brackett’s Quick-Start Playbook

  • Name it to tame it. Be precise about what you’re feeling.

  • Pause before reacting. A deep breath or quick walk can reset your tone.

  • Reframe the moment. Ask, “What else could be true here?”

  • Find allies. Talk it through with someone you trust.

  • Protect your basics. Sleep, nutrition, and movement are emotional armor.

The Ripple Effect

Even without a title, your emotional steadiness impacts others. This is co-regulation—when your calm presence helps steady the group. In a networking context, that’s magnetic.

Final Thought

As Brackett says, “The difference between a great day and a disastrous one often comes down to how you handled one difficult feeling.”
If you can understand, name, and work with your emotions, you’ll show up with more clarity, compassion, and connection—both online and, more importantly, offline.