We’ve all read gloomy headlines from time to time about lucrative management careers getting sidelined because of an angry outburst. And not having the ability to control your emotions, especially anger, can disrupt a lot of areas in your life, especially a promising career in management.
Managers are tasked with a lot of responsibilities. And with a lot on their plate, it’s understandable that they need to deal with a setbacks and frustration on a daily basis.
So a real asset in having a successful career in management is knowing how to manage anger and even suppress it when needed. Obviously, losing control due to an outburst doesn’t automatically translate to a life sentence but it still can be a dangerous proposition for your management career.
Here are 5 ways that anger can send your management career up in flames:
1.You’re Saying It’s Okay To Break The Rules
Managers are expected to maintain calmness, composure, and rationality in the face of adversity. That’s why organisations choose them to lead the way.
Angry bosses and managers are broadcasting a clear message: I’m breaking the rules because I can. I’m getting angry because expectations aren’t being met. I’m angry now because the rules don’t apply to me. See where this is going?
And if you feel a bit unsure of what the “rules of engagement” might be, you could learn by taking a course. But with all the options out there, where do you start? Well, the courses offered by ZandaX seem to worth a look: they’re online, easy to follow, and low-priced, and eould provide a great way to de-risk your career prospects!
To expect others to behave in a certain way, you must set an example yourself first. Let’s consider the lifelong effect ‘angry parenting’ can have on a child. Frequently losing their cool in front of their child will most likely affect the child for life, who then might make their own life choices out of haste and anger. If this happens, did the parents succeed in their job?
The same analogy can be applied to management. If you want to promote a culture of success, you need to let your team know that you won’t blow up at them every time they don’t meet expectations. Add to that the fact that rules apply to everybody. If your team is expected to remain calm and cool in the face of adversity, then so are you!
2.Anger Leads To Isolation
Ever noticed something interesting between a sales manager who’s calm and collected, and one who gets irritated and frustrated easily? The former will almost always be more popular, more likeable, and more approachable among their team members.
The angry one, however, who’s known to have a short fuse, will be isolated – locked away in his room, with team members barely making an effort to communicate with him/her. Why?
No one is thrilled to be around someone who is even vaguely angry. It leads to bad decisions. It burns bridges. It makes you draw generally bad impressions about people. And so many other things…
Being angry will most certainly prevent you from making the connections you need to in order to manage your team effectively. It will likely put the brakes on a promotion as well.
3.Anger Prevents You From Taking Ownership Of Mistakes
The best managers are always willing to take ownership of their mistakes and learn from them. There are no two ways about it.
Angry managers, however, tend yo be quick to point fingers and almost never take responsibility for their mistakes … or learn from them. While it’s okay to point out mistakes and recommend steps to take in order to help your team members, blaming others or not admitting to your own mistakes can severely limit your career growth.
Not only that, but it can damage professional relationships beyond repair. It’s a recipe for disaster and you can bet your management career progress will be cut short as a result.
4.You’re Hampering Your Team’s Ability To Work Effectively
Alright, here’s a fun fact: no one likes getting yelled at!
Frequently not being able to control your anger is a guaranteed way to cut off communication with your team.
When you hadn’t reached “management” status in your career, were you ever excited or eager to deal with an angry boss? We’re willing to bet that’s a “no”!
Most team members find that the best way to avoid this kind of manager is to either not communicate at all or have them direct their anger at someone else. At some point, your team members may start working against each other just to avoid your rages!
You can imagine what happens next. Ultimately, you will have to pay the price for a dysfunctional team who kept avoiding you and, instead, played blame-shifting games just to escape your reactions.
5.There Are Legal Ramifications Of Anger
In extreme cases, outburst of anger by a manager can lead to claims of harassment or, in a worst-case scenario, workplace violence. We shouldn’t be surprised because it does happen and the aftermath is not pleasant, to say the least.
So bear in mind that there are moderate-to-severe legal consequences for both the ‘angry manager’ and the organization, which may even have to deal with reputational loss. And be in no doubt that legal proceedings against an angry manager can be an overnight career killer and very difficult to bounce back from. So why even go there?
Conclusion
Let’s be real here: we’re all human and anger is an inescapable part of our psychological makeup. In fact, it’s an emotion that managers at all levels can find themselves battling with.
But even a small eruption can become a significant event for your team member, your organisation, and your management career. The fact of the matter is, where anger is concerned you hold your own livelihood in the palm of your hand.
Words cannot be taken back. Actions cannot be undone. You’ve said it. You’ve done it. And you can’t just shift the blame to “anger”.
The ability to manage anger may come naturally to some, while others may have to take professional courses for it. Whatever approach you choose, start integrating it now to make sure you don’t let it disrupt your plans for a successful career!
