eamesBot/Shutterstock
In a recent episode of the HigherEdJobs Podcast, Dr. Alicia Grandey joined co-hosts Kelly Cherwin and Matt Trainum to explore an essential aspect of higher education that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: emotional labor.
Drawing from more than two decades of research on workplace emotions, burnout, and diversity, Dr. Grandey explained how emotional labor shows up at every level of academia — from faculty managing student distress to leaders expected to maintain composure amid chaos. The conversation highlighted that roles in higher education often demand more than intellectual effort; they require emotional performance as well.
Dr. Grandey spoke to the subtle but powerful ways emotional labor manifests: the pressure to appear composed when overwhelmed, the emotional toll of supporting students in crisis, and the challenge of balancing professionalism with authenticity. Managing your own emotions — or those of others — can lead to burnout, disconnection and even physical exhaustion.
She also introduced tools and frameworks from her co-authored book with Dina Denham Smith, “Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work.” One key framework is the BRAVE model — a practical five-step process for navigating emotionally intense moments. Taking a moment to breathe, recognize emotions, accept them, validate them and engage intentionally can help leaders respond with more resilience and clarity.
The conversation also explored what it means to be an “emotion handler” in the workplace –someone who takes on the emotional burdens of others — and why this is especially common in caring professions like education. While empathy is essential, Dr. Grandey emphasized the importance of setting healthy boundaries and developing self-awareness to remain present without burning out.
If you’ve ever felt emotionally drained at work — or wondered how to better support your team while preserving your own well-being — this episode offers both validation and actionable tools. As Dr. Grandey noted, emotions aren’t a weakness in leadership; they’re information. When we learn to listen to them, they become a source of clarity, compassion and strength.
Listen to the full episode here: https://higheredjobs.transistor.fm/episodes/e79-alicia-grandey
Disclaimer: HigherEdJobs encourages free discourse and expression of issues while striving for accurate presentation to our audience. A guest opinion serves as an avenue to address and explore important topics, for authors to impart their expertise to our higher education audience and to challenge readers to consider points of view that could be outside of their comfort zone. The viewpoints, beliefs, or opinions expressed in the above piece are those of the author(s) and don’t imply endorsement by HigherEdJobs.
