Recently a reader emailed me the following:
“Dear Dr. LeCrone,
I think I have developed what psychologists call “desk rage.” My job is very stressful and I have found that I am beginning to develop a lot of hostility, often over little things at work. I slam the phone down, break pencils, slam my fist on the desk, press too firmly on the keyboard to my computer, etc. Last week I shouted at one of my co-workers and blurted out a four letter word. I think that my problem boils down to the fact that I have too many deadlines. Could you address this topic?”
Dear reader, following are some suggestions that might help:
• If the deadlines are unplanned, emergency situations, let the deadline giver know that unplanned emergencies can’t always be met without seriously affecting other responsibilities. If necessary, try to enlist the support of your supervisor and let this individual know about the time dilemma when it first occurs. Instead of complaining, ask the supervisor to help you set priorities which best meets the needs of the organization where you work.
• Try to see these deadlines as challenges. Is this an opportunity for me to show what I can accomplish? Is this a way to demonstrate my leadership ability and my organizational skills? Can my enthusiasm for meeting deadlines serve as a morale builder for the rest of the organization? Can I become more efficient as I learn to meet more deadlines?
• If deadlines are assigned on a regular basis begin to look for patterns in these requests. Set time aside for these requests by re-labeling them as anticipated parts of the daily schedule. Rearrange your schedule to make time for these requests and thus relieve some of the pressure of them being deadlines.
• If the deadline givers are procrastinators, then let them know in a nice way that your own stress management strategies includes the saying “Someone else’s poor planning is no reason for me to be in a crisis.”
This important topic warrants further consideration and I’ll return to it in the future.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2002
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I’m an experienced Clinical Practitioner, Administrator, Professional Writer, and Lecturer.
