Anger at work 'good for career'

by generaldecay | March 2, 2009 at 06:16 am

324 views | 48 Recommendations | 13 comments

Getting angry at work may not be a bad thing, and may in fact help you move up the career ladder, researchers believe. The Harvard Medical School study found those who repressed frustration were three times more likely to say they had reached a glass ceiling.

My housemates and I were talking the other night about how it's not possible to get angry at work. Or, at least, in most work. One of my housemates was upset because something in her work had annoyed her that day but she couldn't do anything about it. But what do you know... getting a little riled in the workplace may be no bad thing! Um. UM!

Professor Vaillant, who is director of the Study of Adult Development, which published the research, said uncontrolled fury was destructive. "We all feel anger, but individuals who learn how to express their anger while avoiding the explosive and self-destructive consequences of unbridled fury have achieved something incredibly powerful in terms of overall emotional growth and mental health. "If we can define and harness those skills, we can use them to achieve great things." Ben Williams, an occupational psychologist who runs his own company, said: "This is really to do with passivity, aggression and assertiveness. People who are assertive are able to stand their ground, while remaining respectful. They show concerns for their team, as well as others. "That wins them the respect of peers and means they are in a good position when promotions come round."

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Rachel Nixon

at 08:29 on March 2nd, 2009

Interesting - I must try this some time!

generaldecay

at 10:19 on March 2nd, 2009

At NP? Oh, please, please, please, please, please let me know how that goes Rachel! ;)

(Thanks for the recommendation and comment.)

Blue Crush

at 08:33 on March 2nd, 2009

I wonder what Toronto's National Post would think of this study?

They had to make a very public apology after one of their reporters had a very nasty Twitter exchange with another 'professional.'

Lesson? What's posted on the web stays on the web! Maybe people should show their anger in private ...

Rachel Nixon

at 08:41 on March 2nd, 2009

That is definitely true, Blue Crush. People shouldn't consider anything they put on the web as private, regardless of the intended audience.

generaldecay

at 10:19 on March 2nd, 2009

Blue, I published a story the other day about someone being sacked for a comment they made on FB about their job. While I disagree vehemently with the company's decision, it is a salient reminder to be careful about what you put on the web, anywhere.

(Thanks for the recommendation and comment, Blue.)

Paschen

at 08:58 on March 2nd, 2009

Hum, I am not sure about this though. Well, maybe I see it from a Japanese perspective. This would be a big no, no here. Anger would be and is not allowed nor tolerated, not even sarcasm would be acceptable.

generaldecay

at 10:19 on March 2nd, 2009

No, it wouldn't be tolerated in Japan - it's a much less angry culture than the west (from what I understand). I'm not really on board with an angry workplace myself, truth be told.

(Thanks for the recommendation and comment, Paschen.)

Fripouille

at 09:35 on March 2nd, 2009

This is a good post, best summed up for me by the quote from the BBC.

I used to get angry at work years ago, because my work seemed so 'important' to me then. My attitude has changed, however, as has my work, and I am now more of a 'Work to live' person than a 'Live to work' freak.

In other words, yes, I am under a glass ceiling, but I honestly couldn't care less. I do not earn a fortune, but am more than happy to trade more money and 'career prospects' for more time to myself in order that I may play and write songs, write articles and fiction, do some translation and teaching work. The combined renumeration of these activities is not enormous, but at least I'm doing what I like to do.......

generaldecay

at 10:26 on March 2nd, 2009

I get quite worked up about work (pardon the pun) that I really care about, but I find that what really, really, really riles and upsets is the egos and politics in the workplace. I've never lost my temper about it in the workplace, though, and I don't advise that at all. I'm quite career-oriented but I'm not vicious about it at all, unlike some of the people I come across.

(Thanks for the recommendation and comment, you!) :)

Jarrett Martineau

at 09:39 on March 2nd, 2009

Interesting concept, however, a distinction needs to be made between assertiveness and aggression. The true challenge is finding a way not to let your anger get the best of you by being expressed harshly - and to see if it's possible to assert yourself without being aggressive.

Not getting angry in the workplace doesn't necessarily equate to passivity and the loss of "a good position when promotions come round".

In my view, having a balanced approach is more beneficial for everyone in the long run.

generaldecay

at 10:30 on March 2nd, 2009

Jarrett, thanks for the recommendation and comment. And I think you make a very good point about finding that balance. I have a former boss who was NOT good at that at all. Aggressive, horrible man. Ugh!

jazzyzazzy

at 11:01 on March 2nd, 2009

Jazzyzazzys Guide to ANGER MANAGEMENT.Intake a deep breath. on the count of 5.Hold in,exhale slowly, repeat 3 times. Peace perfect Peace.If that doesnt work try the Japan method, 15, minutes of GENTLE,exercise for all workers together before they start

the day.If that fails get yourself a good lawyer.

Kaitlin Duck Sherwood (not verified)

at 11:04 on March 3rd, 2009

A Stanford researcher named Larissa Tiedens did research that shows that in pairs where one person was set up to be high-status and the other low-status (randomly, though they didn't know it), and set up to succeed or fail (randomly and unknowingly):

a) high-status people feel angry and frustrated when things don't go well; low-status people feel guilty and ashamed,

b) in success conditions, they both thought the high-status person was more responsible; in failure conditions, they both thought the low-status person was more responsible**

and in another experiment, found

c) people who express anger and frustration are *perceived* as higher-status than those who do express guilt and shame.

Thus, by expressing anger and frustration at work, you are exhibiting high-status behaviour. I suspect that if you go totally ballistic, that would be a bad move, but even just saying, "I am angry and frustrated" is probably enough to boost your status.

** This wasn't 100%, but it was a very strong correlation.