NEW RESEARCH | How negative emotions can drive your business forward

Negative emotions such as anger, frustration and disappointment do not have to be a barrier for small business owners – in fact, they can be a driving force. This is according to a doctoral thesis at Jönköping University.

– We often think that negative emotions only lead to problems, but my research shows that in certain situations they can provide energy and motivation to start and develop businesses. This is particularly evident in environments where resources are scarce, says PhD student Rida Ijaz, Jönköping University.

Emotions as a resource

Her doctoral thesis examines small business owners in Pakistan, and how their emotions and communities affect their ability to build businesses. In one part of the study, she followed self-employed people at or below the poverty line who started small businesses to survive. The results show that emotions are not black and white, but that different levels of emotional activation lead to different types of resourceful behaviors.

– We saw many strong negative emotions – anger, frustration, disappointment – but the surprising thing was that these emotions were not only disruptive, but often empowering. They became a driving energy in a ‘do or die’ situation. And that goes for small business owners in more financially stable environments too.

The community matters

Another important part of the research is about small business owners’ relationships with their local communities. Rida Ijaz followed a group of small business owners for several years.

– We could see that community becomes crucial in resource management. The small businesses shared contacts, ideas, products and even funding. Together they were able to manage constraints that would have been very difficult for individuals,” she says.

In some cases, the community took social responsibility and contributed to solving certain societal problems, for example by introducing healthier and more sustainable products.

Practical importance

The conclusion is that small business owners need to become more aware of their emotions. If they understand how emotions can lead to resourceful behaviors, they can be used more constructively.

– Negative emotions are not to be avoided. It is important to channel them properly, so that they become an asset rather than a hindrance.

At the same time, Rida Ijaz stresses that small business owners should also find communities and networks that can provide support.

– The value of community should not be underestimated. Sharing resources, experiences and networks allows small businesses to survive, grow and in some cases even scale up their operations.

More about the thesis
Rida Ijaz will defend her thesis Entrepreneurial Resourcefulness: The Role of Emotions and Community Embeddedness on September 12 at Jönköping University.