Sexual attractions and preferences have always been an important part of human psychology and sociology since time immemorial. It has also been observed that many managers and executives around the world often get attracted to their subordinates, colleagues, clients, or even employees, resulting in unprofessional behavior and workplace harassment.
This is not the case for all people who are in charge of others' professional lives. Some might be interested in developing romantic relationships outside their office space while maintaining a professional relationship with their partners inside it. Nevertheless, both ways have consequences on managerial decision making, which requires further exploration.
The emotional impact can be described in terms of distraction, stress, anxiety, and excitement. When a person gets attracted to someone else in his/her office environment, he/she tends to lose focus on other tasks and responsibilities. They may find themselves unable to concentrate on their regular job or take long breaks to think about the object of their affection. Stressful situations like these lead to irritability, nervousness, or even aggression towards co-workers or bosses. On the other hand, some individuals use sexual attraction as a motivator to keep working hard and achieve better results in less time. This sense of accomplishment makes them feel excited and happy, which helps in boosting productivity at work.
From a cognitive perspective, sexual attractions affect mental processes, such as memory, attention, problem-solving ability, creativity, and planning. Research shows that when someone is sexually aroused or desirous of another individual, they tend to remember things related to the subject more quickly than usual. In addition, their ability to pay attention increases during those moments, so they do not miss any details or cues from the other party. This improves critical thinking abilities and decision-making skills since one has to consider multiple factors before taking action.
This process becomes complicated if there are many people involved who share similar interests and preferences; hence they end up taking longer to reach conclusions regarding the matter under discussion.
Sexual sympathies have both positive and negative effects on managerial decision making depending upon how an individual handles it. It can lead to increased distraction and anxiety but also promote productivity and creative solutions when used appropriately. Managers should be aware of their own biases and prejudices while interacting with employees or coworkers and try to maintain professional boundaries at all times.
What are the emotional and cognitive consequences of sexual sympathies on managerial decision-making?
In terms of emotions, research has shown that sexual sympathies can lead managers to make decisions based on personal feelings rather than objective criteria, potentially leading to favoritism or bias in hiring and promotion decisions. Additionally, sexual sympathies may cause managers to feel embarrassment, shame, or guilt if they act upon them, which could impact their ability to make rational decisions.