5 ways to deal with frustration at work

Frustration can turn you from a hard working, positive-minded, let’s-get-it-done kind of employee into an emotional, uncertain and irrational employee who fears that in sheer frustration you will verbalise the words continually circling your mind… “I quit!.”

Frustration at work can be caused by many factors, it might be work that is unfulfilling, co-workers that we have difficulty getting along with, or demanding organisational structures that seem to strip us of our time and suffocate our passion and creativity.

It may be that you are so passionate about what you do that you are constantly thinking up new ways to make things better, but these ideas are never followed through on or backed. Without support you may start to feel alienated and find the uphill battle a tad wearing, leading you to the next stage of giving up the fight.

After a repeated history of ideas not being moved into action or hard work being left to die then we start to become tired of the battle and are tempted to drop the fight. We try to convince ourselves that we don’t care when in actual fact we care too much. Frustration at this point is starting to fray the seams of your career.

If any of this is ringing true, then you’ll need more than a good work ethic and positive attitude to effectively deal with them.

So let’s make a start, go back to basics!

1. Believe in Yourself and Your Abilities
Whatever has shaken your foundations needs to be dealt with. Believing you have the skills, abilities, and talents that got you the job in the first place will get you in a much better mindset to move forward.
2. Remember That No One’s a Mind Reader
Unless you bring what is bothering you to your boss’s attention, they’ll never realise how much you are struggling. Remember no manager is a mind reader. You can’t assume that anyone knows what’s bugging you, you have to speak up for yourself.
3. Take note of What’s Working and What Isn’t
In your frustration, you can lose sight of the benefits.  A negative perspective of your work can easily overtake the positive things about your job. When you feel like giving up, take a deep breath and think about both the good and the bad, write them down. You may just realise there are things still worth fighting for
4. Be specific about what you want
Once you know exactly what isn’t working, make a list of your specific requests. Show how these issues, when resolved, would help your team, your manager, and the entire organisation. Taking this approach also turns complaints into something much more positive. You’re not just presenting problems your offering up solutions.
5. State your position
Outline your current situation, what you are doing well, and what you want to see changed. At each point propose a resolution, don’t leave the problem hanging. Take control.
Undealt with frustration will inevitably impact on your health. Clenched teeth, sleepless nights and that constant nervousness in the pit of your stomach are all symptoms you can do without.

So it’s over to you, by following these steps you may just surprise yourself and turn the job you are currently thinking about leaving into one that you have a renewed excitement for.
Good Luck!