Many of us get annoyed or irritated about little things. And when we show our annoyance to the other person, the situation escalates. People respond to aggression with aggression. And when you look back at the reason for the fight, you might think it was really stupid and unnecessary.
Getting to the Bottom of Things
Sometimes, there are deeper reasons why misunderstandings like this occur. Maybe you’ve been having some issues with that person all along but you haven’t been able to express them. Or maybe you were upset about something else at the same time and your anger simply got misplaced. So if you want to keep your cool and be more productive, it is necessary to get to the bottom of things first.
Do You Have a “Nemesis” at Work?
We all have a “nemesis” at work—that one person we can’t stand. And often, it’s for some silly reason. We may think that they laugh too much or dress inappropriately or have a high-pitched voice. Ask yourself: is this the real reason why you’re angry with this person? Or do they, by any chance, have something which you don’t have? Is your aggression towards them a result of some kind of envy/jealousy? Do you also long to wear casual clothes to work like that person who is dressing inappropriately? Do you also want to chit-chat with other office workers like they do, although not in a high-pitched voice?
Recognizing Envy/Jealousy Within Yourself
This kind of introspection can lead into really startling results. You often find that there is some type of envy directed towards people you don’t like, at work and in your personal life as well. If you just make some subtle changes to your own behavior, you’ll find that you can get along with that person quite well.
Recognizing and Dealing with Misplaced Anger
Then there are the fights or misunderstandings that occur because of some outside reason. Maybe you were in a bad mood because your AC wasn’t working. You couldn’t get mad at the AC, so you decided to take it out on a colleague. In this case, the solution is simple: get your AC fixed and apologize.
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