For the working profession, it is imperative that they have a pleasant and a positive environment to work in. However, there are times when this very environment becomes sour and uncomfortable, causing disgruntlement and anger. And due to the current scenario and with the mounting pressure to perform better amongst the ever-increasing cutthroat competition, there seems to be a rise in unsettling emotions, including anger at work .and the result is hampered productivity, disturbed teamwork etc. among other outcomes.

So what could be the main cause for the same? There can be numerous causes for the eruption of anger at the workplace, from small petty instances of harassment or abuse, to peer pressure, stress, etc. Priyanka Goyal, Senior Executive Client Servicing, Ignitee India Pvt. Ltd., expresses, “Anger builds up inside when expression is curbed. Most people don’t have the tact to relate their problems, in an effective yet non-heated manner, and to prevent an outburst, employees bottle up their resentments.”

Dr Kersi Chavda, Consultant Psychiatrist, Hinduja Hospital, says that anger at work can be caused due to various reasons including issues with the boss, colleague, personal issues etc. “Unfortunately, stress at work has become the norm rather than an exception. Today, it is not enough for you to know the job, it is imperative that you are successful at it too,” he says.

Though it is very natural to have varied emotions at work, the impact of every emotion is different. Anger, specifically, can have drastic impacts on your professional life. “Anger clouds perception and is known to fail intelligence, of an individual as well as of an organisation,” expresses Samadarshiniji, Director, Oneness University.

“Anger at work, if not addressed properly, can prove to be highly counterproductive. It not only impacts the individual’s morale but also the performance, team dynamics and the work environment,” explains Sudeshna Datta, Co-founder & EVP, AbsolutData Research & Analytics. So how do you deal with this emotion at work? What is the best way to avoid such feelings? “The best way to control anger at the work place is to walk away from uncomfortable discussions. It does not mean putting off the issue. It is always better to have discussions and confrontations when you are not in an agitated frame of mind,” says Ravi Subramanian, Head of Consumer Credit & Risk, HSBC Ltd.

Ruchika Wason, Head Corporate Initiatives, Ignitee India Pvt. Ltd., adds, “When you feel a bout of anger coming, try to calm down. Once you have calmed down, return with a more rational mind to discuss what went wrong and seek a solution, if possible. If you still can’t see eye-to-eye, get a third person to help you.”

Chavda adds further, “It is important to learn how to communicate effectively, as it can help one solve anger issues, losing ones temper is useless, as it does not get you anywhere.”

So next time you think you are about to lose your cool, breathe, calm down and let the moment pass, as anger can get you nowhere, but out.

THERE ARE OFTEN MOMENTS AT THE WORKPLACE WHEN EMPLOYEES GET ANGRY AND LOSE THEIR COOL. THE REASONS FOR THE SAME MAY BE MANY BUT THE OUTCOME IS THE SAME, LEADING TO LOW PERFORMANCE, FAILURE IN UNDERSTANDING COLLEAGUES AND AN ERUPTION OF UNKNOWN EMOTIONS. AND IN TODAY’S UNCERTAIN TIMES, THIS HAS BECOME QUITE A COMMONLY FELT EMOTION.