NFIB

Managing Emotions in the Workplace
06/ 12/ 2002

by Vicki Gerson

When business owners scream, shout or berate their workers, it creates an unhealthy--and potentially dangerous--working environment. Emotions must be managed to keep a healthy staff and a growing bottom line.

It's important that a business owner know how to remain cool, calm and collected in today's highly charged workplace--even when orders drop, inventory doesn't move and the business's future is uncertain. And remember that the soft economy and rise in unemployment has caused stress and anxiety for employees as well.

According to Dr. Melissa Kay, a licensed clinical psychologist and partner at Advanced Behavioral Solutions in Illinois, "Business owners need to be honest with their employees and aware of their employees' worries and concerns."

Kay suggests business owners take the following steps to help manage emotions in the workplace.

Plan regularly scheduled group meetings

"Regularly scheduled meetings where people have an opportunity to discuss their concerns open the lines of communication between business owners and their employees," she says. "Business owners would know what their employees are concerned about and be able to provide reassurance and possibly solutions. These meetings would most likely improve company morale and work productivity."

Meet with employees individually

Some workers may benefit from one-on-one meetings to discuss his or her change in behavior. An individual employee may be having child care arrangement problems, which explains a series of recent absences. Because of these absences, that employee is worried, tense, snaps at the people around her and is fearful of losing her job. The employer must use diplomacy and assure the employee that he or she will give them time to solve the daycare problem. Once the employee knows the job is secure, the employee's emotional tension should lower to a manageable level.

Step in to solve unsavory business practices

Employees want to protect his or her own position in the company, and some are willing to engage in cut-throat competition to do so. Bickering among employees can't be ignored because it has an effect on all employees in the workplace. As the business owner, you must calmly step in and put a stop to such behavior.

Personal habits can raise tension in the office

Employees can get angry about the behavior of other employees. The employee cracking gum after lunch each day, the one who angers the staff by telling off-color jokes, and the one who always lets his phone keep ringing and won't pick it up all affect productivity. It’s the business owner’s job to make sure that one individual’s behavior doesn't disrupt the harmony of the office.

Provide workshops on stress management

Kay suggests that when business owners provide workshops on stress management, employees can improve their individual skills. Employees could be suffering from on-the-job stress because they are not meeting sales quotas. Other employees could have serious problems at home such as children involved with drugs or alcohol, a sick spouse or aging parent that are creating problems and emotional volatility.

"It is likely that if employers empathize with their employees and honestly try to address their concerns," says Kay "then employees will feel better, which in turn makes employers feel better as well."

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