Have you ever felt like just storming right out of your office but not before flipping a few chairs on the way? Or, giving that super annoying co-worker a piece of your mind? If yes, you’d be happy to know that you are not alone! Workplace anger is a real issue! But unfortunately, your office may not be the best place to let your emotions take over.
Workplaces are complex environments. You may love your job but that doesn’t mean you are never going to have those days where you just can’t stand being at the office. And while we try our best to remain calm, composed and rational, things may not always go our way. There are several reasons why we may experience emotions like anger and frustration at work. Some of the more common reasons are: 1. Being passed over for promotion, raise or not getting the recognition we deserve. 2. Dealing with difficult co-workers or having regular differences of opinions with other team members. 3. Feeling undervalued.
When you find yourself becoming overwhelmed with anger, stop what you are doing right away and just close your eyes. Practice deep breathing exercises or count till 10. This will disrupt the strain of angry thoughts and give you time to compose yourself. You can take a little walk, listen to some music or call up a friend…whatever helps you to calm down.
Here is another tip on how to control short temper. If you are finding it hard to handle things on your own, it may help to talk to a trusted friend or co-worker. Talk it out with someone who knows the office dynamics and can help you handle the situation in a better way. If that’s not possible, just call up a friend you trust and vent.
If you cannot find anyone to talk to at that moment, pour your heart out on a piece of paper or in an email draft. Again, putting your emotions into words can help you calm down and gain a fresh perspective on things. However, make sure to tear away the paper and delete the draft once you have calmed down or at least lock the document to secure your privacy.
Take some time to picture yourself when you are angry…think about how you look, the way you sound and how you behave. Not a pleasant picture, right? Would you want to talk to a person like that? The answer is probably no. This little exercise can help you gain some perspective on the situation and save you from a lot of embarrassment.