Entrepreneurs who struggle to understand their emotions are less committed to business goals, study finds

Entrepreneurs who struggle to recognise and make sense of their own emotions are less likely to feel attached to their businesses and less committed to achieving their goals, particularly in high-stress periods, according to new research from the University of Bath School of Management. And while management development programmes often focus on areas such as strategy, finance and leadership skills, the study – No words for feelings, no attachment to ventures? Alexithymia, venture attachment, and venture goal commitment under perceived stress – also suggests there may be significant value in helping entrepreneurs improve their emotional self-awareness.

The study focuses on alexithymia, a personality trait that makes it difficult for people to recognise, understand and describe their own emotions. People with alexithymia experience emotions, but they may struggle to identify exactly what they are feeling or put those feelings into words. It is considered a neuropsychological trait rather than a mental health disorder and is typically identified by self-assessment questionnaires or evaluation by a third party.

Drawing on studies involving more than 400 entrepreneurs in Indonesia and the United States, researcher Jason Gabriel Jonathan found that higher levels of alexithymia were associated with lower commitment to business goals. Entrepreneurs who reported greater difficulty understanding their emotions were less likely to develop a strong emotional attachment to their ventures, which in turn was linked to lower goal commitment.

“It’s important and valuable for entrepreneurs to understand alexithymia and its potential impact on their performance and decision-making – my research shows that entrepreneurial success may depend not only on what founders feel, but also on how well they understand those feelings,” said Jason Jonathan. “Under normal conditions the impact of alexithymia is not so noticeable but we found it has a dramatic influence when a person is going through highly stressful periods. Stress really heightens the negative aspects of alexithymia, so understanding if you have this personality trait may be key to how well you perform or stay committed to your business goals in a demanding business environment.”

The researcher said a typical example might be a start-up founder who repeatedly struggles to secure investment. As the rejections mount, they become increasingly unsettled but find it difficult to understand or explain their feelings.

“They struggle to recognise that their disappointment comes from seeing something they deeply care about encounter repeated setbacks. Instead, they begin associating those unpleasant feelings with the business itself. What was once a source of excitement for them gradually starts to feel like a burden. As financial pressure mounts, they become emotionally detached from the venture and less committed to getting the product to market,” he said.

The researcher suggested that mindfulness training, reflection exercises and stress-management techniques may help founders better understand their emotions and maintain motivation during difficult periods. Additionally, business incubators and mentoring programmes could benefit from including emotional self-awareness training alongside traditional business support.

“The findings have practical implications for entrepreneurs, investors and organisations that support new businesses. Founder-development programmes often focus on areas such as strategy, finance and leadership but I think there may be considerable value in helping entrepreneurs improve their emotional self-awareness,” Jason Jonathan said.

“While research shows the role of emotions in entrepreneurial ventures, Jason’s research highlights why some people may be disadvantaged, and how this can be rectified. These insights provide a theoretical contribution to the discipline and sensible guidance to practice,” said Dr Debbie Desrochers, who supervised Jason Jonathan’s research.

No words for feelings, no attachment to ventures? Alexithymia, venture attachment, and venture goal commitment under perceived stress is published in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights.