Negative feelings at work can be good and vice versa

A new study has suggested that feeling bad at work can actually be a good thing whilst feeling good in the workplace can also lead to negative outcomes.

The research conducted at the University of Liverpool found that the commonly-held assumption that positivity in the workplace produced positive outcomes, while negative emotions lead to negative outcomes, may be in need for reconsideration.

Management expert, Dr Dirk Lindebaum said that the findings of the studies challenged the widely held assumption that in the workplace positive emotions generated or engendered a positive outcome, and vice versa.

Lindebaum said that anger could be considered a force for good if motivated by perceived violations of moral standards.

The study also observed that, within team situations, negativity could have a good affect, leading to less consensus and therefore greater discussion amongst workers which enhanced the team effectiveness.

The study is published in Human Relations.