If you’ve worked in an office setting for any length of time, chances are, you have a story or two about emotionally charged situations. Maybe it’s the time Bob from Sales and Sue from Marketing got into a screaming fight about the presidential election. Or perhaps it happened when the intern got so angry at your boss that someone had to call Security.
You may recall these incidents with a smile or a nervous laugh, but the importance of dealing with emotionally charged office situations should not be overlooked or dismissed. These outbursts could cause lingering feelings of anxiety, depression, anger or other negative emotions. If you want to maintain healthy relationships with your co-workers—and who doesn’t—it’s best to think before you react during an emotionally charged situation.
Don’t Stoke the Flames
While sticking up for yourself is one thing, exacerbating a tense office situation is another. Any anger that takes place usually subsides rather quickly, so don’t make matters worse by contributing to the hysteria. Truth is, many social conflicts stem from some underlying issue, so once your co-worker has a chance to blow off some steam, the problem may be more easily defused. After it’s over and everyone is calm, that may be the time to uncover the root of the problem and deal with it appropriately.
Provide Release Valves
If you’re in a management position, it’s your responsibility to communicate to your team what is and isn’t appropriate office behavior. Encourage open communication among the members of your staff, and respectfully acknowledge their thoughts and opinions. Open communication can soothe sore feelings before they have a chance to ignite, instead of allowing them to linger and explode later on.
Practice Self Control
If you’re the cause of an emotional blow-up in the office, try to be cognizant of your words and actions, and do your best to maintain a sense of professionalism. When you get visibly and emotionally upset every time you’re faced with a challenge, your co-workers will start to label you as being unpredictable. That in turn produces fear and mistrust in the workplace, and it could significantly damage any professional relationships.
David Lowenstein, Ph.D. is a psychologist and the clinical director of Lowenstein & Associates, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to providing therapeutic services to individuals and families, he offers training and consultation to numerous associations, schools and agencies around the country. Additionally, he is a frequent radio and TV guest and a resource and contributing writer for numerous newspapers and magazines nationwide. Contact Dr. David Lowenstein at 691 South Fifth Street Columbus, OH 43206 or by phone at 614.443.6155 or 614.444.0432.
