Operating Principle
2–4 min read
Emotions are contagious, and status amplifies that transmission. A leader’s affect shifts cooperation, conflict levels, and perceived performance across the team independent of the literal content of what they say; visible emotional presence is therefore a leadership responsibility.
Operating Question
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Why It Matters
Emotional contagion runs downhill and amplifies with status.
Supporting Evidence
Sigal Barsade, “The Ripple Effect”; Hatfield, Cacioppo, and Rapson on emotional contagion.
Research Notes
Treat this as an operating heuristic and weigh the relevant context and limitations.
Practical Actions
Check your visible state before high-stakes meetings; regulate affect when anxiety rises; aim for steady composure.