Handling Anger in the Workplace

Dear Debbie,
What's the best way to handle anger in the workplace? Sometimes people and situations just make me plain mad and I know that I let it show.

First and foremost, while you are in the moment that angers you, it is imperative stay calm. Try not to let your anger show. If necessary, walk away from the situation and give yourself time to gain your composure before you attempt to address the situation. Reacting to any workplace situation in the heat of anger almost always ends in regrets.
Next, prepare yourself for situations and circumstances that have the potential to make you angry. Know yourself and know when, where, and who might provoke those feelings in you. You may not be able to avoid the people and issues that make you mad, but you can plan how you might react and what you might say. For example, think about a particular person with whom you interact who tends to trigger your anger. When you are in a calm and contemplative mode, work through a mental exercise of how this person makes you angry and envision ways in which you could better handle such a situation. Mentally prepare actions that you can take to keep your cool externally regardless of how much you feel like exploding internally.
Emotional intelligence and maturity are critical traits in leaders and professionals. Being able to control your emotions in volatile situations is a sign of emotional intelligence and maturity, and is something that you must learn about and practice regularly. As you rise to greater levels of responsibility and have more people reporting to you, this skill and trait will be every bit as important to your career as your technical skills are.
Remember, an outburst of anger will only serve to damage your reputation and will not serve to accomplish much other than that. Sometimes, reacting angrily can do irreparable damage to a a career. Recognizing that you have a problem with anger is the first step toward making constructive changes to deal with it. Good luck and keep working on developing your emotional intelligence and maturity.