How to Gain Control of One's Emotions

Whether an employee has called in sick for the "umpteenth" time or your sales are declining, running a business can be quite emotional. After all it was your passion that drove you to this spot in the first place. Here are some tips on how to gain control of your emotions next time you're about to lose it at the office.

Instructions

1. Recognize that you've gone off the handle. This doesn't mean you're not warranted in your anger. It just means you must recognize that you've gone over the edge from being upset to completely irrational.

2. Refrain from whatever action you are doing. If you are in the middle of a yelling match, stop. If you are in the middle of tossing things around the office, calmly put something down. The action of what you are doing is merely a manifestation of your emotions that have run out of control.

3. Breathe slowly and relax your mind. It's hard to be angry when you are breathing slowly and calmly. When your body is loose and languid, your uptight emotions simply fall away.

4. Isolate specifically what has caused you to lose control of your emotions. In business there are many factors (company politics, personal politics, making sales) which can cloud why you are mad. Make sure you aren't lumping many things together. By isolating the problem, you are able to see it clearly.

5. Create a plan of attack. As you settle back to your normal emotional range, sit and think about what would solve the problem that caused you to lose it in the first place. And as you solve this problem recognize the answer might not be easy. Also recognize that it may not be solvable in one fell swoop.

6. Accomplish your new-found goal in the business climate. At this point, you've moved from being completely irrational to having a plan of attack. The only thing you should be focusing on is moving forward. Now that you've gained control of your emotions, you are ready to run a better business.