Article

Simmer Down Now

So let’s deal with anger management, shall we?  This can be applied in situations where a location’s manager or a customer says or does something that makes you so angry you can’t see straight.  Nobody benefits from this kind of situation, and it can be avoided by defusing the moment.  To gain control of your temper:

•Get the facts.  Before you get mad, make sure you’ve got all the information.  Don’t think the worst about a situation (or person) and don’t make assumptions.  Take the time to get the truth—it’s what can keep you from exploding and doing or saying something you’ll regret.

•Make an informed decision.  Once you get all the facts, decide whether to get mad.  But first ask yourself if getting mad is the right reaction.

One distributor found his Refreshment Center had been unplugged and moved.  He prepared to go ballistic, when a secretary rushed in to tell him that the office room had flooded, and the staff had ‘rescued’ his machine  because they didn’t want anything to happen to it—and they didn’t want to lose his service! Needless to say, he calmed down.

•Ask yourself what you’ll gain by getting angry. Let’s face it; there are some people that are so impossible to work with that it’s worth the extra time to find a new home for your equipment, rather than deal with him or her any longer, or risk strangling them! But—maybe the income from that equipment is so good it’s worth it to keep your temper and pocket the money!

•Argue calmly.  Obviously, try to avoid a heated argument at all costs, but as difficult as it may be, try to remain calm.  Anger makes us lose control and keeps us from thinking clearly.  But if we let another person appear out of control while we remain calm, we’ll end up the psychological winner and certainly the more credible.

Everyone has seen an argument escalate into a yelling match.  This happens because each side tries to outdo the other in volume, as if ‘loud’ means ‘right’.  The curious thing is that people will do this in the opposite direction, as well. Stay calm and speak quietly, and you’ll be amazed at how quiet the argument can be—and in fact it may never become a real argument, because it’s hard to stay angry and stay quiet.

•Let the other person “win”. When someone challenges a strongly held belief, we tend to want to defend it until the other person believes what we believe.  Unfortunately, few issues are clearcut and viewpoints differ.  Instead of getting into a heated argument, concede that the other person may be right.  You don’t admit you’re wrong, but you don’t insist that you’re absolutely right, either.

A distributor usually refilled her machine at one location very early in the morning, and was told by the manager that she’d have to switch to an afternoon time.  This would mean juggling her entire morning route, and she got a bit angry with the manager, who responded with anger.  She calmed down enough to let him ‘win’. Later she found out that the switch was due to another shift being added, which meant more profit for her—so she was the real winner!

Although ‘blowing off steam’ may feel good (for a moment), it’s always counterproductive. Use these tips (and maybe some deep breathing!) and you’ll get past any angry moments that occur ..although let’s hope you never have to use them!