Article first published as The Angry Workplace on Technorati.
You may be shocked by this title; after all we are all taught that anger is a bad thing. Don’t get angry, don’t be mad with me, what did I do wrong? All are common responses to someone getting angry.
Where it’s bad
Some organizations use anger, or the ability to incite someone to anger as a management tool. This may sound crazy, but anger is used in the workplace in several ways. Some managers use anger to intimidate employees which results in:
- Causing them to cower and submit to the “angry one” in order to avoid further conflict or escalation
- Suppressing feelings and a desire to limit interactions with the manager, or become adverse to any situation causing the manager to “light up” again
- Begin a “brave confrontation” of the angry behavior of the manager, and encourage a less heated discussion of the issues
I can almost guarantee we have all worked with someone displaying these characteristics and when we submit to this behavior, we condone it. Not because we like it, but we don’t want it repeated. As this happens, the manager creates a relationship of intimidation contributing to a hostile working environment. Other managers see this behavior, note that this is OK or tolerated and may use it themselves. The higher in the organization this behavior occurs, the more it becomes a model.
Where it’s good
When we become angry it is often because someone or something threatens us. That might be a driver texting in the lane next to us, someone being overtly rude or unjustified criticism. The way we react to these situations defines our character and behavior. Have you ever had a time when you reacted angrily to a situation that you misunderstood, or misheard? Of course … we all have.
So the natural anger reaction can lead to a higher state of alertness, readiness and response. The trigger or event that causes anger to build is a warning signal. Assuming that you don’t go off pop when this occurs, being aware of what has caused the event can be a healthy thing. If you react calmly and perhaps ensure that you heard the facts right, take a breath before reacting or give yourself some time to think before acting can all help.
On the other hand you don’t want to smother your feelings completely and bury them. They will reemerge, perhaps in more serious ways later.
Bottom line, understand the consequences of anger in the workplace, and if it’s pervasive and the leadership doesn’t want to do something about it, you might have a better career elsewhere. We will all live longer when at peace and less stressed.
