Emotions in Organizational Change: An Integrative Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Emotions play a significant role in organizational change, but they are often neglected in change management models, which can lead to resistance and increased stress among employees. In this manuscript we discuss how emotions can influence leaders and employee’s perception and responses to change initiatives. We also explore interpretive lenses that researchers use to investigate emotions in the context of organizational change. This literature review makes notable contributions by fostering the integration of social, institutional, and emotional perspectives into change management practices, while shedding light on the considerable potential of leveraging positive emotions for enhancing engagement during change implementation. MAD statement This integrative review addresses the role of emotions in organizational change management models, a key factor of engagement or resistance. The complex interplay of emotions in organizational change processes-where resistance and fear intertwine with excitement and hope – underscores the requirement for change management strategies that acknowledge the intricate role emotions play in both individual and group experiences. Change initiatives often falter because they address only on specific aspects, neglecting the dynamic between conscious and unconscious emotional expressions. Emotional dynamics in organizations extend beyond immediate reactions to change emcompassing deeper emotional bonds with leadership and the institutional environment. In this context, leaders are paradoxically sources of anxiety and responsible for mitigating it it within their teams. Anchored in previous research, this exploration offers new insights for optimizing change implementation. It suggests integrating social and institutional perspectives, and leveraging positive emotions in engagement strategies. Unlinke other reviews, this work synthesizes empirical findings specifically related to emotion's impact on engagement or resistance at different levels. It categorizes existing explanations and expands on the epistemological perspectives of emotions, elucidating how they operate and the ongoing efforts required to comprehend and harness emotions as catalysts for change.