Workplace Violence Prevention
Using Anger Management Strategies

Workplace violence prevention through dealing with other people's anger in the workplace:

1. Keep in mind that it's not just anger in the workplace you are worried about. Some people might be angry, but keep it to themselves, or deal with it in healthy ways. The person you're really concerned with is the one who is likely to become critical, accusatory, aggressive or violent.
2. Look around among your co-workers and ask yourself the question, "If anyone in this group were most likely to become aggressive or violent, who would that be?" Most of the time you will know immediately. If not, ask some of your friends what they think. Chances are that person will be someone who feels misunderstood, victimized, rejected, badly treated or discriminated against.
3. Here's where your courage comes in...spend one-on-one time with the most unhappy and isolated of your co-workers. Get to know them and make them your friend. Of course, you may have to overcome some of your own internal barriers, biases and fears to accomplish this successfully. Workplace violence prevention takes committment, courage, and your good heart!
4. Ask them what they are thinking and feeling. You must feel and show a genuine interest in knowing what's going on with them, or they will pick up on your insincerity, and that of course will feed their anger in the workplace.
5. Reflect what you have heard them say. You don't have to agree, disagree or solve their problem. Just hear them and tell them what you have heard them say, using phrases like: "OK, what I hear you saying is..." (then repeat their exact words--it is hearing their own words coming back to them that helps to calm them down.) This may seem like a small thing, but it is actually one of the most effective anger management strategies for workplace violence prevention.
6. Then say something like, "I hear you." "I see where you're coming from" or "Thanks for telling me what's going on." Many angry, upset people need you to hear them more than anything else. Just knowing someone cares enough to listen and empathize may be enough to calm many angry co-workers and prevent workplace violence. You will also benefit from learning the conflict resolution skills on this anger management relationship page.
7. If you can empathize and offer understanding, by all means do so, with comments such as, "When I put myself in your shoes, I can see why you would feel that way" or "That makes sense to me." Only say this if you sincerely mean it. Patronizing can do more harm than good. Empathy skills are absolutely essential for effective workplace anger management.
8. As a general rule in workplace anger management scenarios, do not offer solutions or even different perspectives to the angry or potentially violent person. Any version of that will feel like you're trying to change or fix the upset co-worker. If and only if you feel a rapport with the person, or if you sense that they might be open to your viewpoint, then provide information, perspective and/or resources that you think might be helpful. Do not try to change their mind-that will only feed their hostility. You might also find these guidelines on understanding and preventing school violence to be helpful.
9. If you are in a group of co-workers that is healthy enough to embrace this person, invite him to join you for lunch, or go to a party or a ball game. The idea for workplace violence prevention is to include the angry, upset or isolated co-worker in your activities--because it is often feelings of being excluded or even hated that give rise to workplace anger management issues, aggression and violence.
10. You might try being playful and humorous with those who are having a rough time--although this can backfire if you don't already have a good sense of connection with this person. If you think there's a chance it could bring a smile,
• Tell a harmless joke--meaning, avoid humor that is at someone else's expense.
• Put a flower on his desk or in his workstation
• Rearrange something at his workstation in a humorous way--again, this can only work if you have a positive connection with this person!
• Put a toy or smiling face somewhere that will surprise her and maybe bring a laugh.
11. If you have the opportunity or authority to do so, put this person on a committee or offer her a position of leadership on some task. You might even invite them to a meeting to discuss workplace anger management or workplace violence prevention.
12. Unless you believe it would do more harm than good, inform management or your own superiors of your observations and concerns. This is a sort of last resort choice for workplace violence prevention. Only choose this option if you can't do any of the above, or if you have tried and had no success. Sometimes employees develop anger management issues when a supervisor or manager takes an adverse employment action against them. The employee becomes angry because they haven’t learned their basic employee rights.
13. These are not suggestions of one-time efforts to "see if it works." You must practice these types of skills consistently with anyone who seems angry, withdrawn, isolated, outcast, quiet, off to themselves, depressed or openly violent and aggressive. You may be saving lives!

14. Be optimistic! Whether you follow any of the above recommendations or not, you can greatly help the situation by expecting positive outcomes. Picture this person getting better, feeling better, and getting their problems solved. This will lower your stress and the angry person will pick up on your positive feelings and it will help!
15. If you do not feel that you can do any of these things for whatever reason, then just wish the best for this person in your heart and mind. Every time you think of them or see them, send them positive feelings and give them your silent blessing. If you pray, then pray for them. This can be as effective as overt action, and in some cases more so.

Congratulations for taking responsibility for dealing with your own anger in the workplace! First of all, consider these points:

• You have good reasons for your anger, but they may not be the ones you're thinking about. There are often deep-seated reasons for anger, and workplace violence prevention depends on getting to the bottom of those. Learn about repetitive anger and rage patterns in this information on anger and rage addiction.
• Even though you may feel like a victim, you actually have lots of choices, and you've come to the right place to learn what they are! For example, the more you learn about healthy anger, the more you will realize your options for taking action to improve your situation, whatever it is.
• Blaming others for your workplace anger management issues will get you nowhere. I'm sure there are other people around you, maybe your boss or supervisor, that really get under your skin, but that doesn't make them responsible for your anger in the workplace.
• Other people are responsible for their actions, and you are responsible for your reactions, which includes your anger and angry behavior.
• The good news is with responsibility comes freedom -- the freedom to respond in a way that works for you and doesn't get you in trouble. When you exercise your freedom and responsibility on a consistent basis, you will be successful in your own workplace violence prevention.
• Exercise some of that freedom right now, and try these techniques for dealing with workplace anger.

Ready to take action to get some help with your anger right now? Great! Here are some options for you:

• Listen to free previews of these anger management CD or audio download programs:
• Anger Management Techniques
• Anger and Forgiveness
• How Anger Can Affect Your Health
• Anger and Depression
• Read this book on all aspects of anger including information on workplace violence prevention
• Or, read this E-book on Anger Management Techniques
• Use this form to schedule an anger management counseling session with Dr. DeFoore.
• Sign up for one of these Anger Management Programs for workplace violence prevention.
• Make your workplace a positive place by becoming a Goodfinder today!