Why you should get mad at work – Photo: deeper story.com
Much has been said about not getting mad at work, and keeping your professional cool under all circumstances. Especially for us Black women for whom the angry black woman stereotype sometimes plays more of a role at work, than our actual performance. Case in point, the Internet upheaval that last happened after Shonda Rhimes was oh so inappropriately depicted as an “angry black woman”.
However, as someone who has lots of emotions,I happen tobelieve emotions should be channeled in a productive, fruitful manner at work, lest they shall become totally unuseful and downright damaging. And I also happen to believe it’s not only OK to get angry at work, it should be recommended. If you look at some of the least publicized yet highly effective characteristics of great leaders, you’ll find some of the most successful leaders around us do get angry, very angry!
Now I’m not suggesting you go on hollering at your co-workers, breaking your computer screen (it was obsolete anyways), or giving everyone a quite overdue piece of your mind. No, what I’m not saying is what everyone else might advise when you feel your inner thermostat rising, that is to swallow it up and get over it!
Your emotions are not only valid, they are powerful! Channel them the right way, and they may open the doors to treasures of achievement:
1. Acknowledge how you feel! I don’t know about you, but my emotions are like a ticking time bomb. The more I ignore them, the more destructive they become! Recognize you’re angry, and don’t try to bottle up your feelings!
2. Ask yourself why you’re angry! Dear hubby and I attended a marriage seminar at our church during which our pastor gave one powerful word of advice that stayed with me ever since. Getting angry is one thing, understanding the root cause of your anger is another. Is that negative performance review at the root of your anger, or are you no longer interested in this job? Is your co-worker’s promotion the real problem, or rather the fact you’ve outgrown your team?
3. It’s not the anger, but what you do with it! Even the Bible says it’s OK to get angry, it’s the ensuing sin that’s the real problem! Getting angry is not only OK, it shows you have a pulse! Now it’s up to you to grab your anger by the shoulders, and turn it into the decision you’ve needed to make for a long time, the motivation you’ve lacked for some time, and ultimately the success you know you are capable of achieving!
Do you get mad at work? How do you channel your anger in the workplace?
The Corporate Sis
