How to manage anger at work
By Ann-Maree Moodie | smh.com.au | 01 April
Work rage ... there's plenty to get the blood boiling on the job.
Lack of recognition, poor communication and unmet expectations are the main reasons people hate work and their bosses.
Recently a group of 2400 employees were asked what made them angry, frustrated or upset at work. Again and again a lack of common sense and courtesy cropped up in the answers.
"Always being told what to do," said one respondent. "Being bossed around, shouted at, talked about behind my back, not being trained, being ostracised . . . rudeness of clients, being rushed, being called in at short notice, having to work weekends, when co-workers . . . are not talkative, rude or unfriendly, when my skills, abilities and achievements are not acknowledged."
The survey's results have been published in the new Australian book Employee Enragement: Why People Hate Working For You.
"When employees love you, they'll do anything for you," author James Adonis says.
"They'll put up with work they don't like for much longer if they have a manager they adore. But if employees are disengaged, they'll whinge and complain - often behind your back."
The more disenfranchised the employee, the higher the likelihood of a spike in staff turnover or a fall in productivity. Employers know that keeping the best people is critical to staying viable during an economic downturn. But what if one of your managers is driving people away?
"The main reason why employees resign in the first six months is because their expectations haven't been met," Adonis says.
A manager who fits into the category of someone who enrages people isn't the type of person who bothers to ask their team what they need or want. "But a manager who engages their staff always does. This type of manager either meets those expectations or provides the employee with a more realistic outlook."
Of the top 50 reasons why employees hate their boss, lack of recognition is one of the deal breakers. Employees like to feel valued and appreciated.
Two little words like "good morning", "thank you" or "well done" will go a long way, yet the lack of a simple greeting or compliment becomes a festering sore on workplace morale. It's no wonder poor communication was another key reason identified in the survey.
"Senior managers should have casual conversations with front-line employees and run open forums so that they're aware of issues before they become crises," Adonis says.
A driver who fails to indicate or who merges by pushing in, is likely to trigger an incident of road rage because he's failed to acknowledge the rights and feelings of other drivers. For a similar reason, colleagues who don't perform to the team standard cause the most angst in the workplace.
"The biggest mistake managers make is to spend too much time with underperforming employees, all the while thinking that their talented employees are OK," Adonis says. "It's the best employees you should be dedicating your time to the most."
While some employees might wish their manager would fall under a bus, retaliation is unhealthy and unproductive. It might give you a psychological boost to see your boss frustrated that a project hasn't been finished by deadline, especially if this means in turn they'll be criticised by their boss. But ultimately it will be you who suffers.
An otherwise conscientious employee will start taking sick days, spend their time at work procrastinating, and while their work will suffer, so will their reputation. A poor reference is inevitable and getting another job will be harder.
"Employees who are treated like slaves begin to feel and act like slaves," says Bruce Katcher, the co-author of 30 Reasons Employees Hate Their Managers.
"They live in a state of perpetual anxiety about not pleasing management and losing their jobs. Anxious employees typically lose self-confidence and are not the best performers."
A better plan is to talk to your manager. Politely point out how their management style is causing disruption within the team. The HR department can provide advice on the right approach, or ask a mentor or a coach what you could do. "If it's really bad, go to your boss's boss," Adonis says. And if that doesn't work? "Just get the hell out of there."
Why they hate you
Here are some of the answers when people were asked:
"What makes you angry, upset or frustrated at work?"
- When I greet my manager with "good morning" and he replies with "is it?". He brings the morale of the whole mill down. He also yells at his subordinates and throws things. He's poison.
- My manager has little compassion for anyone and would often tell us that if we didn't agree with her every move, we did not belong on her team.
- I'm not a piece of furniture and if I'm giving you "time for dollars", calling my name once in a while goes a long way.
- The managers gossip as if their life depended on it. Often their subordinates confide in them with personal matters. You would think they would have the decency to keep their discussion confidential. Oh no! That's asking too much. It becomes a company headline.
Ann-Maree Moodie, Ann-Maree Moodie is a management educator and the Managing Director of The Boardroom Consulting Group.
First published by Smh.com.au on April 01 2009
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