Handling the Angry Birds in the Workplace
They shout, they yell, they seethe and sulk — they are the office rageholics. Anger in the office can be career damaging. Here are some steps to control it
In journalism, a little anger is par
for course. Or so I was told at the time of my internship with a newspaper.
This, right after a senior editor had devoured and spat out a correspondent in
the aisle for not submitting a story on time. The reasons: the daily deadline
pressure, competitive environment and a constant rat race. Since then, we all
have witnessed a number of public dressing downs, spats and general shouting.
So much so, most of us don’t even blink an eye now and surely, some of us
secretly miss it! Be Sarcastic
But corporate rage hasn’t really been studied. It’s difficult to measure and its adverse impact hard to quantify. In fact, there have been studies that prove how a little anger laced with sarcasm actually improves productivity. The study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology tested how hearing different types of customer service calls affected students and their ability to perform. The study shows that people who were exposed to anger and sarcasm worked harder and smarter than people in a neutral environment.
At first, the students were made to listen to angry calls and pleasant calls. The result: the angry calls made them more focused but not necessarily any better at solving problems. What really worked was sarcastic humour. The conclusion: “Despite also listening to a form of anger — albeit laced with humour this time — these students performed better on the creative problems. The underlying anger helped to focus the students, the inherent humour of sarcasm helped to offset the damage that anger can do.”
The flipside: even if people exposed to anger work harder, a habitual angry boss/work environment can have a negative impact within the team and the organisation as a whole.
Anger Management
Then again, angry people are everywhere — some sarcastic, some shouters. But how do you control your reactions to someone’s anger? Answer: to each his own. In a previous office, I walked into the washroom only to bump into a crying colleague. In-between sobs, she narrated how her desk head shouted at her in front of everyone. Her reaction: meek acceptance and walking away from the scene to cry in the bathroom and later, on my shoulder.
Then again, there’s a former colleague who decided to toughen up and answer brimstone with fire. Joining a newspaper infamous for its open verbal duels, she soon acquired an envious swearing lexicon. But HR experts advise against these two approaches. “The only way to deal with an angry person is to have an open dialogue. Try and arrive at a solution calmly and then approach your HR or the superior,” says HR professional Namita Varma who works with a telecom firm. She adds: “If all else fails, look for a new job.”
Be Rational
For handling someone’s anger, a common technique recommended by cognitive-behavioural therapists is to give people a different framework through which to view an angry person. If someone is yelling at you, give it a context such as they’ve just received some bad news and are now taking it out on you. A research by Stanford University shows that this technique works in rationalising reactions to someone’s anger and also works pre-emptively. Jens Blechert, the research head, calls this process reappraisal.
The bottom line: handling anger is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. If nothing works, may we suggest a few rounds of pig pummelling by belligerent birds.
But corporate rage hasn’t really been studied. It’s difficult to measure and its adverse impact hard to quantify. In fact, there have been studies that prove how a little anger laced with sarcasm actually improves productivity. The study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology tested how hearing different types of customer service calls affected students and their ability to perform. The study shows that people who were exposed to anger and sarcasm worked harder and smarter than people in a neutral environment.
At first, the students were made to listen to angry calls and pleasant calls. The result: the angry calls made them more focused but not necessarily any better at solving problems. What really worked was sarcastic humour. The conclusion: “Despite also listening to a form of anger — albeit laced with humour this time — these students performed better on the creative problems. The underlying anger helped to focus the students, the inherent humour of sarcasm helped to offset the damage that anger can do.”
The flipside: even if people exposed to anger work harder, a habitual angry boss/work environment can have a negative impact within the team and the organisation as a whole.
Anger Management
Then again, angry people are everywhere — some sarcastic, some shouters. But how do you control your reactions to someone’s anger? Answer: to each his own. In a previous office, I walked into the washroom only to bump into a crying colleague. In-between sobs, she narrated how her desk head shouted at her in front of everyone. Her reaction: meek acceptance and walking away from the scene to cry in the bathroom and later, on my shoulder.
Then again, there’s a former colleague who decided to toughen up and answer brimstone with fire. Joining a newspaper infamous for its open verbal duels, she soon acquired an envious swearing lexicon. But HR experts advise against these two approaches. “The only way to deal with an angry person is to have an open dialogue. Try and arrive at a solution calmly and then approach your HR or the superior,” says HR professional Namita Varma who works with a telecom firm. She adds: “If all else fails, look for a new job.”
Be Rational
For handling someone’s anger, a common technique recommended by cognitive-behavioural therapists is to give people a different framework through which to view an angry person. If someone is yelling at you, give it a context such as they’ve just received some bad news and are now taking it out on you. A research by Stanford University shows that this technique works in rationalising reactions to someone’s anger and also works pre-emptively. Jens Blechert, the research head, calls this process reappraisal.
The bottom line: handling anger is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. If nothing works, may we suggest a few rounds of pig pummelling by belligerent birds.
:: Nupur Amarnath SET120701
THE YELLER VS THE SEETHER
The Yeller
You are a Yeller if…
Making your point involves volume. Your body language shows frustration or displeasure.
Career Karma
Your complete lack of control can be career damaging. A volatile personality at the workplace is a hindrance. Colleagues who have borne the brunt of your anger can take you to HR for bullying. You can be categorised as undisciplined, untrustworthy and unable to handle pressure. You will be the last one to be picked for any team effort.
From Yeller to Stellar
Walk: If the whole counting 10…100…200 (!) doesn’t work, get out. For instance, if something has keyed you up during a meeting, excuse yourself and head for a 10-minute walk.
Listen: Hear people out. You may be jumping to conclusions.
Cough: Studies show that a well-executed cough allows you to disguise your temper. How? Well you focus on a physical and vocal action that does not involve shouting.
Write: Maintain an anger diary. Write down what makes you angry. Keep it handy. When something instigates you, pull out the anger journal and add a description of the incident to shift focus. Who knows, you may have a future book in hand!
The Seether
You are a Seether if…
You allow anger and frustration to build up. Your natural habitat at the workplace is the water cooler as you are attracted to gripe sessions.
Career Karma
More difficult to deal with than yellers, seethers are passive aggressive and hard to read. They are irrational and paranoid. At work, they usually have a low drive as they are forever feeling victimised. They have a tendency to be vindictive and create distrust. When a seether vents, his thoughts and actions can be more destructive and out of proportion.
From Seether to Soother
React: Don’t let things fester. If something makes you angry, react appropriately. Or you will become a time bomb. Try deep breathing and then approach the person calmly.
Understand: Get behind the real reasons of your anger and where it stems from. Maybe burnout or unrealistic deadlines, maybe home troubles. A little time management could help ease the pressure.
Vent: Confide in someone you trust. This will defuse the anger. If needed, approach your colleagues or boss.
Talk: Righteous indignation doesn’t help. After thinking calmly, if you are certain you’ve been wronged, rectify it. Don’t storm in to the boss’ room, calmly talk it out.
SET120701
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