Your co-worker of seven years is retiring. There’s a nice get together in the office and a few people are asked to say things about her before she leaves for the day. Suddenly, you feel a lump in your throat and the urge to cry. Should you leave the room? Is vulnerability a bad thing at work?

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week, every week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn what to do when you feel like you might cry in the office…

Key Takeaways:

• When we ignore our feelings, anxious emotions can overtake the workplace
• You can cry at work if it’s authentic and not dramatic
• If you have to, get up and leave, go for a walk and allow yourself to process your emotions
• Check in with an upset co-worker, find them a room with a door and give them a chance to collect themselves in private
• If your office lacks privacy and people are witnessing you breaking down, be sure to circle back with the team after you’ve collected yourself and assure them you’re ok