Is It Okay to Get Angry at Work

Expressing emotions at the workplace has traditionally been viewed negatively since it has been thought to hamper one’s ability to think logically and solve problems. A study by Kramer and Hess, in 2002, examined communication rules across various occupations and found that expression of emotions at work is seen as appropriate if professionalism is maintained. This includes the appropriate display of both positive and negative emotions; for negative emotions, suppression is usually seen as the appropriate response.

This is because expressing your anger at work may lead to undesirable results such as being viewed negatively, having unproductive conflicts and facing difficulty in adjusting to the workplace. It can also result in other negative behaviour like abusing substances, taking risks and damaging property. Its expression can thus become problematic if it is intense and frequent, and leads to aggressive behaviour and longstanding grudges.

However, anger in itself may not be a bad thing. Recent research has shown that emotions at the workplace may actually be beneficial for the individual and organisation. What matters is how the emotion is expressed. When one’s anger is refocused from being directed at an individual to being directed at certain practices or processes within the organisation, it can help in expressing dissatisfaction, and in dealing directly with the problem. This means that if your anger is not intense and frequent, goes away quickly, and is expressed without accusation and aggression, it can do greater good than harm and does not require professional help.

Research has also found that people who display anger at work are likely to be seen as more competent, and have a higher status at work than those who do not express their emotions. They are also considered insightful and knowledgeable about various issues. This may be because anger is usually expressed when something is amiss.

Conclusion

Anger is thus a normal and healthy human emotion, that does not always lead to negative results when expressed at the workplace. Learning how to identify anger can help you gain a better understanding of the situation, and promote healthy resolution of problems within the workplace. Expressing how you feel assertively, without aggression, is the healthiest way to deal with anger. Managers and subordinates at work can use this understanding of anger and be as supportive as possible while addressing issues. Anger needs to be managed, not suppressed.