I Snapped at a Coworker! (Here’s What I Did/Changed)

I’m ashamed to say that I snapped at a coworker once, but I made it right with them and it never happened again.

If you’ve snapped at one of your coworkers, or maybe you find yourself snapping more often, you can also make it right.

If you don’t, you’re going to end up being avoided at work, getting in serious trouble, and your mental health is only going to worsen.

Here are some tips to help you repair the damage caused by snapping at work and how to stop yourself from snapping in the future:

I Snapped at A Coworker – Here’s how To Repair the Damage

1. Look at Things from Their Perspective

This doesn’t work for everyone, but I always get greater clarity on a situation when I take a look at things from the other person’s perspective.

Take a moment to think about how the person you snapped at feels and what they think about you and the situation.

I know that for me, it really made me feel bad. I hated how I made them feel and was able to feel that same pain myself when I put myself in their shoes.

Related – Here’s what to do if a coworker yelled at you in front of everyone.

2. Apologize and Make Sure They Know You Mean It

We all know that there are different types of apologies and the only type that really counts is a heartfelt one.

You need to make sure that they know you’re sorry and that you understand how your words or actions affected them.

A simple “I’m sorry” isn’t going to cut it. You need to really show them that you understand what you did and why it was wrong.

Trust me, it will make a difference to them.

3. Show Them You’re Sorry

Words are one thing, actions are another – and I’m someone who believes that actions speak louder than words.

You need to show the person you snapped at that you’re truly sorry for what happened.

This could be done in a number of ways, such as giving them a gift as a peace offering, helping them out with their work, and most importantly not getting frustrated around them.

4. Don’t Snap Again

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but I’ll say it anyway.

If you want to make things right with the person you snapped at, you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

This means being aware of your triggers and taking a step back when you feel yourself getting frustrated at the very least.

I was able to get my temper under control, so I have some tips that’ll also help you avoid ever getting to that point again:

How to Stop Losing Your Temper at Work

1. Take a Deep Breath And A Step Back if You Feel Your Temper Rising

One of the most effective tried and tested ways to keep a temper at bay is to take a deep breath and try to calm down when you feel your temper rising.

I know it’s easier said than done, but you need to try and get yourself under control before you lash out.

All I do is stop whatever I’m doing and take three big, deep breaths.

It really works, if you try it now, I bet you feel a little bit better!

2. Never Take Anything that Happens at Work Personally

This is something I had to learn the hard way, but it made a huge difference to my mental health.

I used to take everything that happened at work personally and would get so worked up over things that were out of my control.

I realized that it wasn’t worth getting myself into such a state and I started to detach myself from work a bit more.

It’s never going to be about you, it’s going to be about tensions, workplace dynamics, and other factors coming to a head at work.

3. Realize It’s Ok Not to Defend Yourself

This is another big one, when you realize that you don’t look weak or like you’re in the wrong when you don’t bite back at someone in the workplace, it’s liberating.

It doesn’t make you a doormat, it just means that you’re the bigger person.

Next time you can feel a situation is escalating, take a step back and talk about it when everyone is calm and able to make their best decisions.

4. Practice Self-Care Outside of Work

If you’re getting frustrated or angry at work, chances are you also have a short fuse outside of work, right?

That’s why I make sure to practice self-care in my free time, so I can diffuse any potential anger before it has a chance to build up.

I like to go for walks, meditate, and do yoga to clear my mind and relax my body.

It really makes a difference to how I handle stressful situations.

5. Seek the Support Or Help You Need

Finally, if you’re struggling to keep your temper in check, whether that’s due to you or your situation at work, it might be time to seek out some professional help.

I’m not saying you need to go to therapy, but talking to a mentor or manager at work about what’s going on can really help you get some perspective.

Plus, it’s always good to have someone in your corner who can help you advocate for yourself if things do get out of hand.

Related – Here are some tips for meditating while having a bath and even driving!

How Do You Apologize for Snapping at A Coworker?

If you’ve snapped at a coworker, it’s important to apologize as soon as possible.

This doesn’t mean that you need to grovel or make a huge display, but a sincere apology can go a long way to repairing any damage that’s been done.

The best way to apologize is in person, but if that’s not possible, an email or even a handwritten note will suffice.

Just make sure that you’re sincere, clear about what you’re apologizing for, and that you take responsibility for your actions.

You might also want to offer to make up for any inconvenience that you caused.

For example, if you snapped at someone who was trying to help you with a project, you could offer to stay late or come in early to finish it.

Basically, whatever you need to do to make the situation right, you should do.

I hope my experience and the advice in this article help you better deal with your frustrations at work (and out of work) and help you build better coworker relationships.

Honestly, getting on well with your coworkers is going to make your working life so much more rewarding, it’s worth working on yourself to achieve it.

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Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-dissatisfied-ceo-shouting-his-young