Michael Page Logo

Main menu

  • Home
  • NEW - Timesheet
  • Jobs+

    Searching for a job?

    • Job search
    • Submit your CV
    • Salary comparison tool
    • Income tax calculator
    • Featured employers

    Job search advice

    • Job search advice
    • Cover letter and CV advice
    • Growing your career
    • Job interview tips
    • Making your next career move
    • Global opportunities

    Search for jobs

  • Career advice+

    Career advice

    • Being happy at work
    • Career Chats - Podcast
    • Cover letter and CV advice
    • Graduate advice
    • Growing your career
    • Inclusivity Mapper
    • Job interview tips
    • Job search advice
    • Making your next career move
    • Tips for temps
    • Tomorrow's Talent

    Insights

    • Insights
    • Latest insights

    Salary centre

    • Salary centre
    • Salary advice
    • Salary tools

    Skills centre

    • Skills centre
    • Top 21 skills eBook
    • Top 100 skills tool
    • Skills Checker

    Popular articles

    • Popular articles
    • How to answer competency based interview questions
    • How to write an effective job description
    • The importance of good communication
    • Why are transferable skills so important?
    • Seven reasons for employee demotivation
  • Recruiting+

    Looking to hire?

    • Recruitment services
    • Request a call back
    • Reasons to partner with us
    • Advertising for candidate attraction
    • Salary benchmarking tool
    • Submit a job spec
    • Client testimonials

    Outsourcing/project recruitment

    • Outsourcing/project recruitment
    • Managed service provisions
    • Project solutions
    • Advisory
    • Outplacement/career transition

    Insights

    • Webinars & events
    • Webinars & events
    • Market analysis

    Management advice

    • Management advice
    • Attraction and recruitment
    • Development and retention
    • Diversity and Inclusion Centre
    • GDPR
    • IR35
    • Legal updates
    • Run your recruitment processes remotely

    Recruitment expertise

    • Recruitment expertise
    • Discipline expertise
    • Industry expertise

    Request a call back

  • Work for us+

    Work for us

    • Work for us
    • Why choose us?
    • Your role here
    • Use your skills
    • Apply now
  • About+

    About us

    • About Michael Page
    • Recruitment services
    • News & research
    • Client testimonials
    • Reviews
  • Contact+

    Contact us

    • Find our offices
    • Request a call back
    • Submit a job spec
    • Submit CV
    • Timesheet portal
    • Feedback
  • Job match
Register / Sign in
Saved jobs (0)
Saved jobs (0)
Register / Sign in
Login or Sign up
Search for a job

You are here

Home>Advice>Career advice>Growing your career>How to express your anger at work

How to express your anger at work

by Michael Page
How to express your anger at work

Constructive criticism, creative differences and heated debate in the workplace can be a good thing. Lashing out when you’re angry, however, alienates your colleagues, supervisors or clients and erodes their respect. If you’re poorly dealing with anger at work, this reputation can follow you wherever you go, making it harder and harder to get ahead.

 

We generally feel angry in response to feeling threatened, hurt, challenged or scared. These feelings help us understand our values or beliefs – what we really care about. An apathetic employee doesn’t get angry about the quality of work, only the person who cares about the job that they are performing will get angry. However, it is important to know how best to express your anger at work.

There are social norms that dictate acceptable ways of expressing the anger. Profanity, threatening statements, belittling remarks, tantrums, throwing things, etc. are not acceptable behavioural expressions in the workplace. Talking about one’s concerns, feelings and frustrations is appropriate and constructive but best done in private. This is how people expect professionals to behave in the workplace.

Here are four tips to help you to deal with anger at work. 

1. Take a time out

When you start to feel the anger welling up inside you, step out of the office for 10min and get some fresh air. Give your rational mind a chance to catch up with your emotions.

2. Think before you speak 

Take a few moments to collect your thoughts before saying anything. Allow others involved in the situation to do the same.

3. Slow down

Listen carefully to what the other person is saying and take your time before answering. In the heat of the moment we often say things we regret later.

4. Seek help

If you feel like you are losing control of your anger at work, seek help by arranging a meeting with somebody from HR. Many companies have Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) that can help with difficulties in and out of the workplace. If an EAP is not available, consider seeking professional help outside of your company.

Although we are socialised to believe that anger is bad, it is an emotion that can be instructive. The positive resolution of conflict and anger is a skill which is vital in the workplace.

For more workplace and career advice, browse the Michael Page Career Centre.

Previous article
How to change your career path
How to change your career path
by Michael Page
Read article
Next article
How to get a promotion
How to get a promotion
by Michael Page
Read article

Sign up to receive job alerts

We will let you know when any new !keyword jobs are available. | We will let you know when any new !keyword jobs in !location are available.| Create an account to enable features like one click apply, and set up more than 5 job alerts

Topics

  • Career advice
  • Management advice
  • Salary centre
  • Insights

Tags

Conflict resolution

 

 

 

Download our 100 in-demand skills for 2020

 

100 in demand skills

 

Simplify your job search by downloading our new App

 

Download Our App Download Our App

 

Tweets from @michaelpag

Michael Page Logo
Candidate Relevancy gauge

Job Match

Try our smart new tool to find your perfect job

Upload your CV Upload your CV
  • Follow us on FacebookFollow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on LinkedInFollow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on TwitterFollow us on Twitter
  • Watch us on YouTubeWatch us on YouTube

General

  • Site map
  • Site terms
  • Work for us
  • Feedback
  • Accessibility
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Employee rights
  • Cookies
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Privacy policy
  • Complaints policy
  • Country/Region

About Michael Page

  • Investors site
  • PageGroup corporate site
  • Page Executive
  • Page Personnel
  • Page Talent
  • Page Outsourcing

Google reviews

 

Search for jobs

  • Accounting
  • Audit & Advisory
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Compliance
  • Construction
  • Consultancy, Strategy & Change
  • Digital
  • Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Executive Search
  • Facilities Management
  • Fashion
  • Health, Safety & Environment
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • Insurance
  • Legal
  • Life Sciences
  • Logistics
  • Marketing & Agency
  • Not for Profit
  • Policy
  • Procurement & Supply Chain
  • Property
  • Public Sector
  • Retail
  • Sales
  • Tax
  • Technology
  • Treasury

Mobile applications

Download Our App Download Our App

Employers

  • Request a call back
  • Submit a job spec
  • Our offices

Awards

Reviews

Feefo logo

Accreditation

Michael Page is part of the PageGroup. Michael Page is a trading name of Michael Page International Recruitment Limited. Registered in England No. 04130921 Registered Office:
Page House, 1 Dashwood Lang Road, Addlestone, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 2QW