How do you handle it when someone screams or yells at work?

2022-10-24

It can depend on who’s doing the yelling. If the boss does the screaming, it can be very hard, especially with others present. Then the screamer might feel shame and you’ve got to deal with the discomfort it creates. As author and entrepreneur Coach MJ, one of my panelists on this edition of Quick Hits, says, “We all understand how demeaning that makes everyone feel when they hear that kind of public reprimand.” If a peer does the screaming, it’s easier to take a pause and talk about it.

It can depend on who’s doing the yelling.

If the boss does the screaming, it can be very hard, especially with others present. Then the screamer might feel shame and you’ve got to deal with the discomfort it creates.

As author and entrepreneur Coach MJ, one of my panelists on this edition of Quick Hits, says, “We all understand how demeaning that makes everyone feel when they hear that kind of public reprimand.”

If a peer does the screaming, it’s easier to take a pause and talk about it.

Author and empowerment coach Suki Jeffreys offers sage advice on how to handle this situation: “I usually say, ‘Let’s talk about it later.’ Then when later comes, I am very purposeful and say, ‘Let’s talk about what the business problem is…if we can solve that, it’s going to help with your frustration level.”

In some organizations, yelling might be part of the company culture. Billy Ryan, a former MLB executive, told us that yelling was often encourage, especially during draft season, because it indicated passion for a particular player. “As long as that screaming and yelling is done with an eye towards getting the right decision for the team, not for yourself, and it’s done with respect…I think that’s OK.”

Have you ever had to deal with someone screaming at work? What did you do?

Connect with the panelists:
Billy Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-ryan/
Coach M J Tolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/motivationalspeakertolan/
Suki Jeffreys: https://www.linkedin.com/in/couragerises/
Dr Robyn Odegaard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynodegaard/

Want a summary of the Quick Hits I post every week, plus the links to the LinkedIn pages of each of the panelist to show up in your in-box every week? Just let me know where to send it: https://drrobynodegaard.com/quick-hits-notifications/

#QuickHits are designed to exercise your brain by letting you listen in on an unscripted conversation to get other people's thoughts on pertinent subjects. If you would like to join a conversation or have a topic you would like to hear discussed, please message me. https://www.DrRobynOdegaard.com #ScreamAtWork #Respect

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