People Management Magazine feature Dr Jo Burrell about emotion in the workplace

Dr Jo Burrell, clinical psychologist and one of our co-founders here at Ultimate Resilience, was recently featured in People Management discussing the importance of emotional expression at work and its impact on mental health and leadership.

In the article, Dr Burrell challenges the stigma around showing emotion in the workplace, particularly for those in leadership roles. She highlights how societal and gender-based expectations often cause individuals to suppress emotions, leading to negative outcomes like burnout and disengagement.

Dr Burrell emphasises that emotional literacy is a vital but often overlooked leadership skill. “We train people to manage budgets and strategy, but not people’s feelings,” she notes, arguing that authentic, emotionally aware leadership fosters stronger, more resilient team cultures.

Her insights support a growing call for workplaces to become psychologically safe spaces where emotions are acknowledged and respected, rather than hidden or judged.

Find out more about our HR Mental Wellbeing Survey and the very real impact of these challenges on HR professionals.