Emotional autarky supports workplace wellbeing

Emotional autarky refers to the capacity to self-regulate your own emotions rather than outsourcing emotional stability to others.

In workplace contexts, this does not mean emotional suppression or disconnection, it means developing enough inner steadiness to engage, respond and relate without reactivity, dependency or emotional leakage.

Leaders and team members who cultivate emotional autarky bring a grounded presence that stabilises systems and the work environment rather than amplifying stress.

Without emotional autarky, workplaces often become emotionally congested environments where reactivity, blame, dependency and unspoken tension circulate, leading to burnout, fractured trust and an over-reliance on, or a overt/covert belligerence towards, authority figures.

The expectation is the authority figure has the responsibility to manage what individuals have not yet learnt to regulate themselves.

Relational workplace interactions and learning are at their best when practiced by everyone, leaders/teams/individuals. When integrity and accountability isn’t in place with each individual, the workplace lacks trust and sounds like blame through statements such as “the system stinks”.

What many do not realise, is that everyone within the business/organisation is a contributor to the "system" in some form.

This is why emotionally intelligent professional learning opportunities, such as becoming adept at using a reflective cycle to ground the self in psychologically safe workplace professional practices, provide real and relevant opportunities for growth when included in a workplace cultural change process. Many do not see the worth in this type of professional development, if it does not explicitly speak to the core business of the organisation, however the employees are the core business in every organisation.

When emotional self-sufficiency is present, teams experience clearer communication, healthier boundaries and reduced emotionally laborious interactions.

This strengthens wellbeing, belonging and teamwork at an individual and workplace level reducing sick days, employee retention and performance management.

 Emotional autarky supports relational leadership by supporting people to take responsibility for their internal state while still remaining open, empathic and attuned to others, a balance that underpins psychosocial hazard prevention, sustainable people management and short and long-term business success.

🍃 Emotional autarky enables self-regulation rather than emotional withdrawal, that is true accountability

🍃 Leaders who manage their inner state reduce stress transmission across teams

🍃 Wellbeing improves when responsibility for emotions is shared, not displaced

🍃 Emotional steadiness supports clearer thinking, decision-making and trust

🍃 Healthy systems are built on regulated individuals, not emotional suppression

Reflective questions to ponder:

 ⭕ How do you manage your emotional state before it enters the room with others?

⭕ Where might you be unconsciously asking your team to regulate emotions for you e.g. are you placing them in the difficult position of managing your behavioural outburst (written or verbal)?

⭕ What practices do you commit yourself to, in supporting your own emotional steadiness, reflection and self-management of how you show up in your workplace?