How to cope with a manager who loses their temper?
17 December 2008
Read by 2354 persons
For Philippe Tramond, the CEO of Pilotis, the manager doesn't control his emotions: "He doesn't take a step back from situations and reacts impulsively. While a good leader must control himself, this one, by apologizing too frequently, undermines his credibility with his team."
The employee feels held hostage: "He is forced to endure his manager's anger. If he leaves the room, his behavior may be seen as disobedience. However, if the situation repeats itself, he should arrange a meeting with his boss."
During this meeting, he must explain what he felt: "If the employee uses "I", the manager will not be able to contest this emotion. The manager should also try to provide solutions and conclude with a mutual commitment: he commits to meeting deadlines, for example, and the manager to better control his emotions."
This is a better solution than running away: "The employee may be tempted to resign, but there are often solutions within the company. Another mistake to avoid: getting angry, letting it happen, or bypassing his boss by going to see his n + 2."
Conclusion
"A manager is paid to be frustrated, he cannot express himself freely," says Philippe Tramond. "It may happen, exceptionally, to get angry. In this case, it is necessary, when calm, to apologize for the form while recalling that the substance was legitimate. If the manager regularly loses his temper, he shows his incompetence."
What's it like at Balaton?
Thursday noon, in front of Balaton
"It's unbelievable! What is he doing?"
Pascal, one of the computer scientists, paced the forecourt of Balaton. He grumbled under his breath and checked his watch every thirty seconds. He jumped when Arnaud Du Lac patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Hi!
- Oh, well! I almost waited! I told you I had an appointment at 2 p.m...
- I know, I know... I'm sorry, but I was called by Sylvain Lambert...
- Couldn't he wait?
- Well, you know what he's like... And since he gave me a dressing-down this morning, I preferred to settle it with him right away...
- So, did it work out?"
Arnaud Du Lac shrugged:
"He apologized...
- Don't look so disillusioned... It's not every day that a big boss apologizes..."
Du Lac couldn't help but smile:
"Don't believe that... Lambert, he apologizes almost every day... As soon as something goes wrong, he starts by getting really angry... And then, a few hours later, as he realizes that he went a little too far, he apologizes...
- Better than nothing...
- That's for sure... But, at the same time, we've heard his apologies so many times that we don't even pay attention to them anymore..."
Du Lac paused, then continued:
"Frankly, I'd rather he talked to me normally than go through this kind of permanent psychodrama... It's exhausting in the long run...
- Have you ever tried talking to him about it?
- I think Xavier tried once... Lambert calmed down for a few weeks, then it started again. Once, I tried something else: I left by telling him that we would resume the discussion when he was calmer... He yelled that I was supposed to listen to him, that he was my boss...
- And then?
- So, since then, I pretend to listen... Without saying anything... And everything he says goes way over my head..."
Written by L'Usine Nouvelle
Posted on December 17, 2008
usinenouvelle.com
The employee feels held hostage: "He is forced to endure his manager's anger. If he leaves the room, his behavior may be seen as disobedience. However, if the situation repeats itself, he should arrange a meeting with his boss."
During this meeting, he must explain what he felt: "If the employee uses "I", the manager will not be able to contest this emotion. The manager should also try to provide solutions and conclude with a mutual commitment: he commits to meeting deadlines, for example, and the manager to better control his emotions."
This is a better solution than running away: "The employee may be tempted to resign, but there are often solutions within the company. Another mistake to avoid: getting angry, letting it happen, or bypassing his boss by going to see his n + 2."
Conclusion
"A manager is paid to be frustrated, he cannot express himself freely," says Philippe Tramond. "It may happen, exceptionally, to get angry. In this case, it is necessary, when calm, to apologize for the form while recalling that the substance was legitimate. If the manager regularly loses his temper, he shows his incompetence."
What's it like at Balaton?
Thursday noon, in front of Balaton
"It's unbelievable! What is he doing?"
Pascal, one of the computer scientists, paced the forecourt of Balaton. He grumbled under his breath and checked his watch every thirty seconds. He jumped when Arnaud Du Lac patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Hi!
- Oh, well! I almost waited! I told you I had an appointment at 2 p.m...
- I know, I know... I'm sorry, but I was called by Sylvain Lambert...
- Couldn't he wait?
- Well, you know what he's like... And since he gave me a dressing-down this morning, I preferred to settle it with him right away...
- So, did it work out?"
Arnaud Du Lac shrugged:
"He apologized...
- Don't look so disillusioned... It's not every day that a big boss apologizes..."
Du Lac couldn't help but smile:
"Don't believe that... Lambert, he apologizes almost every day... As soon as something goes wrong, he starts by getting really angry... And then, a few hours later, as he realizes that he went a little too far, he apologizes...
- Better than nothing...
- That's for sure... But, at the same time, we've heard his apologies so many times that we don't even pay attention to them anymore..."
Du Lac paused, then continued:
"Frankly, I'd rather he talked to me normally than go through this kind of permanent psychodrama... It's exhausting in the long run...
- Have you ever tried talking to him about it?
- I think Xavier tried once... Lambert calmed down for a few weeks, then it started again. Once, I tried something else: I left by telling him that we would resume the discussion when he was calmer... He yelled that I was supposed to listen to him, that he was my boss...
- And then?
- So, since then, I pretend to listen... Without saying anything... And everything he says goes way over my head..."
Written by L'Usine Nouvelle
Posted on December 17, 2008
usinenouvelle.com
