Managing Anger in the Workplace

1. Complex Relationships

While human relationships are always complex, relationships in the workplace tend to be interdependent, competitive, hierarchical, public, and compulsory.

First, you rarely choose all the people in your organization, division, team, or workspace. Indeed, through selection processes, assignment decisions, and cubicle allocations, you’re generally thrust into spending inordinate amounts of time with people who otherwise would be perfect strangers.

Second, you must do much more than coexist with your coworkers. You must depend upon them and they must depend upon you, routinely, even if they’re the most significant competitors you face in your career.

Third, almost everyone you deal with at work is ranked in the organization ...