Crying is a natural, normal response to a highly charged emotional situation. The situation could be a negative one or a very happy one. Crying creates a very powerful emotional release in the human body and it's excellent for stress management. In fact, a recent medical article stated that 85% of women interviewed stated that they felt better and were more relaxed after a good cry. However it seems that the opposite is also true; holding in your tears and holding back your emotions seems to have a weakening effect on the immune system.

It seems that crying is becoming more acceptable even for men. America's new speaker of the house John Boehner, has been known to break down publically many times. His chronic public crying even earned him the nickname, "weeper of the house."

Despite the fact that crying is a normal response to stimuli, we must remember there is still a time and place for everything. Therefore tears in the workplace can be as awkward as having a laughing fit at a funeral.

My experience in the field has also taught me that tears can be used as a tool to manipulate and take advantage of others. For those of you who have been in my seminars or read other articles I've written, you know I'm a firm believer in the old adage, "what you allow, you teach."

If you allow someone to constantly physically or verbally abuse you, you are teaching them that it's ok. If you consistently allow someone to walk all over you, you are teaching them it's ok. The same can be said for crying in the workplace. If you let an employee have their way or break normal company culture because they have cried; you're teaching them that tears are the road to your decision making. You've taught them where you're weak and where your buttons are, and you can be sure they'll use the same tactic again for future manipulation.