You'd think this tactic would ruin your chances of successful negotiating, but it could work in your favour.

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There are many benefits to having a good cry.

Shedding a tear enables the body to get rid of excess toxins and regulate their levels. It can also help your eyesight by preventing dehydration of your various mucous membranes. Plus, according to a study by the University of Florida, 88.8 per cent of people feel better after releasing pent up emotions through crying. That’s a pretty effective anti-depressant.

RELATED: 7 reasons why having a good cry is great for your health.

Now it appears crying could also be beneficial in the very last situation you’d expect it to be — the workplace. To be more specific, certain workplace negotiations.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, expressing sadness in a face-to-face interaction can sometimes benefit you during a negotiation. In three separate experiments, researchers from INSEAN, the University of Paris, the University of Michigan and EMLYON examined face-to-face negotiations. (Post continues after gallery.)

In all three experiments, recipients conceded more to a “sad expresser” — i.e. the person expressing that feeling — when the social situation provided reasons to experience concern for them.

Of course, this isn’t an excuse to produce waterworks at every opportunity — fabricating drama doesn’t help anyone, least of all you — but if you genuinely can’t hold back tears or emotions during a face-to-face meeting, the outcome might not be as negative as you’d think.

The study found a few specific situations where crying, or expression sadness, didn’t undermine the outcome of a negotiation.

1. Lower power

The first is if the person who is crying is in a lower power position - if you happen to shed a tear in front of your boss, for instance. This is, according to the researchers, because the person in the elevated position feels concern for you and might want to help you out.

RELATED: In praise of a good cry.

2. Future interactions.

Another instance in which a 'sad expressor' had a positive negotiating experience was during interactions with a colleague who expected to see them again. So if you show emotion in a situation where the other person is unlikely to ever run into you again, it might not have such a positive effect.

3. Collaborative relationship.

The third situation was when the negotiation took place with someone you work with in a team. If your coworker sees you frequently, there is a good chance they will feel sympathy for you if you express sadness.

RELATED: How to fix your makeup when you’ve been crying.

So, having a cry in front of someone when you're negotiating could be advantageous. However, before you let it all out while trying to reason with someone, keep in mind that it all depends on the negotiation situation you're in.

Have you ever cried at work?