According to a recent article written by L. John Mason, author of Guide to Stress Reduction and founder of the Stress Education Center, 1 in 4 employees are angry at work. Workplace violence costs $4.2 Billion annually, with 111,000 reported incidents. A sample incident? In May, a 19-year-old flight attendant set fire in a restroom during a Northwest/Compass Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Regina, Saskatchewan because he was mad at the airline for making him work that route.

Yikes!

Mason’s article lists the warning signs. Here at Everything Attitude, we’d rather focus on the solutions.

I know it can be hard to keep a positive attitude, especially if you work with an idiot. But you have to tame your tiger, or it will eat you alive. Retaliating is easy. Self-control involves committing yourself to thinking before you respond. It means responding in a healthy way, instead of reacting and creating regret. People of self-control respond in a way that benefits them and the situation.

A few weeks ago, I was delayed on an outbound flight from O’Hare aiport due to mechanical problems with the plane. Right after the agent made the announcement abut the delay over the intercom, a little bald-headed guy walked up to the counter and starting screaming at the agent. I thought his head was going to pop off. And guess what? The plane didn’t take off any sooner due to his outbursts. This guy lost it for no good reason. He didn’t benefit himself or the situation.

Demonstrating self-control and diffusing your ticking time bomb requires emotion management. Define some things that cool you down and use those tools next time you get worked up. Listen to music, go for a walk, drink a glass of water, call someone. Lighten up and try to see the humor in challenging situations. Choose to let it go, or at least walk away from it for a little bit.

I’m not saying to never get mad. Things will happen and we will get upset. Author Barry Ng agrees, suggesting that ”anger at work is unavoidable, especially in really stressful environments.” The key is emotion control. You can’t let the emotions of your wrath rule your actions and words.