Hotheads and Short Tempers: Taming Explosive Behavior

April 06, 2006

Vince is like a dormant volcano - you never know when he is going to erupt. His outbursts have been fairly frequent lately, although they are difficult to predict. The other day he took offense at a remark someone made to him at work. He abruptly got up and left the room. On his way out he kicked the wastebasket and slammed the door. All the way down the hall you could hear him banging on the walls in rage. We all sat there in silence, not knowing what to say. Vince is a competent worker whose skills are important to us, but we cannot continue to put up with these violent tantrums.

Why do some people have such a short fuse? And what should you do about an employee who often explodes in fits of rage?

Many factors can contribute to explosive behavior: anger, stress, even a medical or mental health condition. When some people become upset, they lose control over their emotions and they explode in a fit of rage. Once a pattern emerges, you have an obligation to take action to curb this kind of behavior because of the possibility that it could turn violent. In today's workplace, explosive behavior can no longer be tolerated because it poses a threat to the health and safety of others.

Get the Employee's Attention. When a person explodes into a tantrum, your first objective is to get the person to calm down so you can discuss the situation in a rational manner and a normal tone of voice. In order to do that, you have to first get the employee's attention. Looking directly at the person, call him by name in a voice loud enough to be heard over the shouting. Then give him a few seconds to compose himself. If the outburst was directed at someone other than yourself, it may be necessary to separate the combatants.

Lower the Volume. As soon as the employee is quiet, assure him that you understand why he is upset. Be careful, however, not to imply that you approve of the behavior.

Stay calm. Don't get caught up in the emotion. Avoid the temptation to shout back or to argue, even if the other person makes an accusatory remark. There will be plenty of time to sort out the issues later on, after the person has calmed down.

Follow up with a meeting. Refrain from trying to resolve the matter while emotions are still hot. Instead, arrange to discuss the situation at a later time, preferably within the next day or two. You can say something like, "There is nothing more we can do about the situation now. Let's talk about this tomorrow and discuss how we can prevent this from occurring again." Then return to your work.

Explain why the behavior is a problem. In a private meeting with the employee, discuss the issue that prompted the outburst. For example, if someone deliberately provoked the person, make a commitment to follow up with the other combatant and make certain that it doesn't happen again. Then, after resolving the issue that prompted the outburst, focus the remainder of the discussion on the employee's behavior. Explain that it was unacceptable. For example, "Vince, I need talk with you about your behavior during the incident. I understand you were angry. Nevertheless, your actions were inappropriate for the situation. When you blow up like that it not only scares people, it creates a volatile situation that can easily get out of control. We can't tolerate the kind of uncontrolled behavior that includes shouting, loud accusations, threats, or physical expressions of anger."

Suggest Counseling. Instances involving explosive behavior indicate an inability to control one's emotions. Therefore, some type of intervention may be necessary to help the explosive individual learn to gain emotional control and effectively deal with stressful or confrontational situations. If your company offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offer to make a referral on the employee's behalf. If not, you might suggest the employee seek help from a mental health counselor in the community.

Dealing effectively with explosive behavior will help ensure a safe, healthy, and productive work environment for yourself and your workers.

Best regards,

Stephen Foster, Ph.D., SPHR
Expert Supervisor, LLC
1493 Market Street
Tallahassee, FL 32312
(850) 893-5699

E-mail me at: Steve.Foster@ExpertSupervisor.com.