SUSAN DAVID
What did she study?
Susan David studied the concept of emotional agility. This is the ability to manage our thoughts and emotions in a flexible, healthy, and productive way, especially during times of stress or change.
Why is it interesting for a company?
Emotional agility is important for companies because emotions affect how people work, communicate, and handle pressure. When employees manage their emotions well, they perform better, make clearer decisions, and work more effectively with others.
What did she identify? What was her main result?
She identified four key steps in emotional agility. These are: showing up (facing emotions instead of avoiding them), stepping out (recognizing you are not controlled by your thoughts), walking your why (acting based on personal values), and moving on (choosing growth and progress). Her main result is that people thrive more when they understand and work with their emotions instead of ignoring them.
Managerial implication
Managers should encourage a workplace where emotions are acknowledged and discussed in a healthy way. Teaching emotional agility can help improve leadership, team communication, and employee resilience, especially during change or uncertainty.
Boundary condition
Emotional agility works best in environments that support openness and psychological safety. If the workplace is too rigid or does not allow space for honest emotional expression, it becomes difficult to apply these strategies effectively.