Getting mad at your boss is one thing (and bound to happen). How you react when you’re angry is another thing. You likely want an opportunity to share your opinions or concerns but blowing a gasket and publicly displaying your anger is definitely not the way to do it.

If you find yourself at odds with your boss (or other management), consider the following list before you react.

• If you’re the type of person to react in anger, it’s best to distance yourself from the situation and come back when you have calmed down.
• When you do get the opportunity to speak, don’t attack your boss personally, rather attack the problem.
• Look at the situation from your boss’s point of view so you can understand where he or she is coming from. If you’re not clear, ask the question. It will make for some productive discussion.
• It’s difficult not to speak up during the heat of the moment. However, remember that there is a time and a place for certain things to be said and discussions to occur. Sometimes it’s better to hold your tongue and save the conversation for a more appropriate setting.
• If you choose to attack the problem in public, be prepared for the possibility of having to apologize for your actions in public.
• Sometimes you need to agree to disagree and leave it at that. You were hired for a specific purpose and it likely wasn’t to fight battles.

[Photo above by Joshua Rappeneker / CC BY-ND 2.0]