In the workplace, there will probably be an employee who sometimes snaps out at co-workers when angry. And the same way, it can also be a manager, HR, or CEO.

But this kind of behaviour not only hurts people, it also shows unprofessionalism and a lack of self-control.

According to an article by Mindtools-a career management page, stressful situations are all too common in a workplace that’s facing budget cuts, staff layoffs, and department changes. 

It may become harder and harder to manage your emotions under these circumstances, but it’s even more important for you to do so. After all, if management is forced into making more layoffs, they may choose to keep those who can handle their emotions, and work well under pressure.

Adeline Uwase a professional copywriter says that there are positive emotions and negative emotions in the workplace, but learning how to control the negative ones so they do not get in the way of your work is discipline.

"I can’t lash out on my co-workers or boss when angry at work, which will only parade me as unprofessional. In a workplace, there should be an understanding level where if a person feels like their emotions are getting out of control due to an incident that happened, they should communicate and find a better solution than acting out,” she says.

Uwase adds that since a workplace hosts many people who are different, learning to control feelings around them is key.

Eddy Shema, a videographer says that emotional control is a crucial thing to be able to do in life because without it, a person lacks the productivity of the workforce and also their values as an employee.

"We all have emotions, no one is unemotional, but it is also good when we learn how to control our feelings in our daily activities, especially in our work. There are values one needs to follow in a workplace and putting aside some of your weak traits you can’t get over, is showing how you respect those values.”

One needs to control emotions at the workplace for many reasons, Didier Honore Abimana says.

"You might have a short-tempered employer that uses harsh words to show you your mistakes, and might even be wrong himself. But you need to calm down, else you quarrel with the employer and you might lose your job or get bad quotes which ruin your CV,” he says.

Most of the time, silence and concentration solve problems. One should avoid at all costs shouting at colleagues or employers, treating workmates with respect and integrity, he counsels.

Good communication is needed in conveying a message in a conductive manner rather than using bad communication, Abimana adds.

Some common negative emotions at work

According to a research made by Cynthia Fisher a professor of management at Bond University on emotions at work, the most common negative emotions experienced in the workplace are as follows:

Frustration/irritation.

Worry/nervousness.

Anger/aggravation.

Dislike.

Disappointment/unhappiness.

How to manage emotions at work

In an article posted by Quantum Workplace a software company in Nebraska about how to deal with emotions at work they share few things on how to manage emotions:

Recognise

When emotions start to bubble up, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and recognize the emotion for what it is. Don’t react immediately. Instead, try to put a label on what it is you’re feeling.

Understand

After you’ve named your emotions, focus on the "why” behind them. Dig deep and try to discover their origin.

Manage

Once you’ve taken time to cool down and reflect, the third and final step is managing the situation. You need to figure out how you are going to respond, if at all.