It was a funny line in a great movie. "Are you crying? There's no crying in baseball!" said Tom Hanks' character in A League of Their Own. It became a popular saying for awhile; I've used it myself.
A favourite boss of mine used to use that line at work. "There's no crying at work!" he'd say to preempt any tears he might encounter. I'm no therapist, but sometimes I wondered whose emotions he was attempting to suppress.
There is crying in baseball, there is crying at work, there is crying when and where tears come. In moderation and appropriately, it is not a sign of weakness. Although less likely to, men may cry. And ladies, it has nothing to do with the way we were raised that we don't cry often and freely. We're men, that is the way we are, this is how we deal with it. Deal with that.
Someone gets fired, a favourite co-worker or boss for example....I've seen tears and heard choked up announcements. I've seen tears provoked by anger and by frustration, by pleading on behalf of another, and I admire the passion. Eyes well up when bad news is shared, when good news is shared. A catastrophic illness or the death of a team member or customer can bring tears in a close workplace or team. I cried when a direct report told me she was pregnant because I knew she and her husband had wanted that baby for so long; I don't think that makes me weak.
Let 'em flow....but then get back to business.
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