The Dark Side of Forced Positivity: Why Faking Positive Emotions Can Backfire at Work, with Jonathan H. Westover PhD

The HCL Review Podcast

Abstract: This article explores the potential costs of enforcing strict positivity norms and emotional display rules in organizational settings. It examines the concepts of emotional labor and surface acting through a review of the academic literature documenting the personal and interpersonal tolls of dissociating outward affect from inner feelings over prolonged periods. Two real-world examples are provided of companies where mandated positivity policies backfired by damaging employee well-being, engagement, and productivity. Drawing from emotional labor theory and research on compassionate cultures, guidelines are offered for leaders seeking healthier ways to cultivate optimism without compromising psychological safety or problem-solving capacity. Specifically, the brief recommends permitting genuine expression of a full range of emotions, focusing feedback on competence rather than smiles, fostering employee autonomy, and modeling self-care behaviors. Overall, the potential damage of forcing positivity at work is examined, with practical implications discussed for balancing positivity with safety and performance.