Can anger boost work productivity? A new study says so
PTC News Desk: It is commonly stated that anger is a dangerous emotion that makes it difficult for us to make good decisions and complete tasks. It is especially important to maintain a calm demeanour at work and a harmonious office environment.
However, according to Metro, a new study by the American Psychological Association found that anger can be a powerful motivator for being productive and achieving our goals.
Anger outperformed joy, sadness, and neutrality in the study, which was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The researchers concentrated on anger because it is believed to ''help achieve goals when faced with challenges,'' according to the study.
The study tested 1,000 participants' behaviour, and the results showed that anger improved people's ability to achieve their goals across all experiments.
''People often believe that a state of happiness is ideal, and the majority of people consider the pursuit of happiness a major life goal. The view that positive emotion is ideal for mental health and well-being has been prominent in lay and psychological accounts of emotion, but previous research suggests that a mix of emotions, including negative emotions like anger, result in the best outcomes," Heather Lench, lead author of the study, said.
According to the study, normalizing anger at work and using it as a tool can have some positive effects.
As per Nicola Kemp, lead facilitator at Good Shout, ''From a business perspective, it is also really important to recognise that anger and frustration with the status quo is a huge tool for innovation and creativity. Recognising what it is you are angry about in the workplace and what you want to challenge with temerity can help you realise the power of your own voice."
Natale Trice, another life coach, told Metro that anger is a signal from the body that we need to do something. The key is to channel your rage effectively and make it work for you.
''Rather than allowing your anger to lead to explosive outbursts, hurtful names and words, or sulking, consider how you can use that surge of anger as a superpower for success,'' Trice says.
However, some experts emphasize that this is only true for short-term rage. While anger may motivate short-term goals, long-term frustrations are unlikely to do so.
- With inputs from agencies
