HigherEdJobs Podcast E79: Emotional Labor in Higher Education and What You Should Know About It
May 13, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Alicia Grandey, a distinguished arts professor at Penn State and co-author of 'Emotionally Charged,' delves into emotional labor within higher education. She uncovers how constant emotional regulation can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue among educators. Listeners learn about practical frameworks for managing emotional strain, the importance of emotional awareness, and strategies for establishing healthier boundaries. Dr. Grandey even introduces the 'brave' and 'DARE' methods for fostering resilience in high-pressure work environments.
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Understanding Emotional Labor
- Emotional labor involves regulating and managing emotions to perform a job well, especially with people interactions.
- It applies broadly to anyone in people work, including professors and administrators in higher education.
Recognize Emotional Labor Signs
- Recognize emotional labor by feelings of alienation, wearing a mask, and burnout from suppressing emotions.
- These costs include exhaustion, distrust, performance decline, and negative health impacts like heavy drinking.
Personal Validation Boosts Creativity
- Alicia Grandey and co-author shared their feelings weekly during book writing to acknowledge personal struggles.
- This validation fueled creativity and productivity, avoiding acting like they were fine when they weren't.