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Big Employees Don’t Cry
Alexandra Levit | Excelle
In this totally unstable business climate, everyone is under a great deal of pressure. People are more prone to snap at each other, and office altercations aren’t unusual. Nevertheless, no matter what your job or situation, having a bonafide meltdown at work diminishes your credibility and intrudes on your reputation. Colleagues and managers who think you can’t handle stress will take you less seriously, whether they mean to or not. I’ve even heard of women losing their lose jobs as a result of being perceived as over-emotional.
But how do you avoid crying at work when you’re prone to it? The best idea is to think about the type of situations that upset you or make you angry, and practice how you’re going to cope when they come up.
When I was working in corporate public relations, for example, I used to feel like crying when a situation became overwhelming and chaotic. If I knew that I had a complicated press event coming up, I thought about how I could handle myself when executives started missing interviews and the journalists started complaining. By the time the event arrived, I’d rehearsed it so many times that I was serene as a summer lake.
Sometimes, however, heated discussions or situations will come up out of the blue. In order to handle yourself here, you have to have the self-awareness to know that you’re about to lose it. This means paying attention to the signs that a crying jag is on its way — maybe tears are pricking at the back of your eyelids, or your heart is jumping around in your chest. When these signs appear, tell the person or people you’re talking to that you need to take a break and then temporarily remove yourself from the situation.
Even if your action seems weird, it won’t be anywhere near as embarrassing as bursting into tears. Go somewhere else (your office, the bathroom, outside the building) to decompress. Once you’re alone, let the tears flow if you need to, but make an effort to relax and calm yourself down.
Consider ways to re-approach the situation without getting upset or angry, and then, catch up with your colleagues to continue the discussion.
Since we’re talking about crying here, most men will think this article doesn’t apply to them. And I have to admit that I’ve never seen a man burst into tears in the workplace. However, the way men express emotion is often to yell, which has the same bad effect on your reputation as crying. These tips are just as applicable for you guys out there, so use them and stay cool!



gwenv
5 months ago
4 comments
The people I work with are mostly men (I'm an engineer in a pulp mill), and I have found it's true that emotional displays are perceived as sign of weakness and incompetence. Crying is not as bad as showing anger or strong assertiveness, which seems to be equated with the B word. Good article, thanks for sharing it.
Karoline
5 months ago
22 comments
Tears just show humaness. I see no issue with anyone crying at work any more than I do with people laughing.
Dolores1963
7 months ago
8 comments
Tears are never acceptable in a business setting.
dee44
7 months ago
48 comments
Gently pressing your thumb and pointer finger together really helps if you are feeling like you are going to cry. I use it all the time.
KristaJGizzo
7 months ago
160 comments
I had a hair stylist cry into my hair once when the job became too stressful for her. While I myself have cried out of anger at work before, I was self aware enough to leave the office before it started. I'll be sure to send her a link to this article.
In addition to leaving the office for a quick break I have found it very useful to take an early lunch hour when stress occurs. You come back to the office with less worries after eating good food and getting a little alone time and fresh air.
BetsyGray
7 months ago
58 comments
Personally, I'm more likely to cry when I am exhausted. But the advice on rechanneling is right on target for me.
Indianmaiden
7 months ago
12896 comments
Thank you for that article. My job gets stressful and yes I feel like crying. Even here on WC when someone is not who you think they are and they hurt your feelings I'll remember this article