We’ve all been there. You’re at your desk, going over the latest numbers on the sales reports and BAM, the co-worker next to you starts. They slam their desk drawer shut, toss around papers, mutter under their breath, glare at everyone and their face is getting redder by the second. Hold on to your seat, they’re gonna blow! How do emotions affect you in the workplace? Do bad moods spread like a virus? What methods can you use to control emotional overspill? What kind of negative emotions are most experienced at work? Let’s take a look.
Frustration: If you’re feeling stuck in a situation with another co-worker who doesn’t do their share, you can become easily frustrated. How about a critical boss that you have a difficult time pleasing? What about being put on hold with that corny music curdling your eardrums? One way to deal with the frustration is to stop and evaluate the situation. Ask yourself why you feel frustrated. If it’s about the co-worker, see if they are having a problem with the project. Maybe they just need some help understanding what’s expected. Is your boss critical with everyone or just you? If they’re that way with everyone, then that’s their personality and you shouldn’t take it personally. If it’s just with you, then maybe there’s something you can do about it. As for being on hold, relax and take a break. Feeling of frustrations do nothing to solve your problems unless you turn it into something positive.
Being worried: With job insecurity and layoffs, worry can gnaw you to the bone. But worry can get out of control and can affect your mental health and productivity. If the gossip around the water cooler is nothing but talk about job cuts and doom and gloom, don’t hang around there. Worrying breeds more worrying and it doesn’t solve anything. To be constructive in dealing with worrying, write down what’s bothering you. Schedule a time to deal with it and let it go until that time. When that time arrives, deal with it and try to find solutions. Constructive worrying can lead to constructive results.
Anger: This is a big one. Anger is an emotion that isn’t always easy to handle. Learning to control your temper will keep your job, losing it may cause you to lose your job. When you know your anger is building, recognize the danger signs. How you choose your reaction to a potential situation is the key. If you feel yourself getting angry, if possible, remove yourself from the source. If you can’t, stop whatever you’re doing, close your eyes and practice deep breathing. When your thoughts are redirected, it helps to control your anger.
Remember, if management is considering layoffs, are they going to lay off the people who work well under pressure and keep their emotions under control? Or will they lay off the person who can’t keep it together? What do you think?
Comments, as always, are welcome!
By Linda Lee Ruzicka
Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 6 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Decending Darkness, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She is an Affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association She also does freelances work for Beyond and for Salesheads. More of her blogs can be found at Salesheads blog.
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