Trying to ignore emotional outbursts at work? Here’s what to do instead.

The Challenge of Emotional Outbursts 

Early in my career, I had a colleague - we’ll call her Sarah - who was known for her fiery temper. One afternoon, during a high-stakes project meeting, she suddenly lost her composure. She slammed her notebook shut, raised her voice, and stormed out, leaving the entire team in stunned silence.

I was managing that project, and I had no idea what to do. My first instinct? Ignore it and hope things would settle on their own. But somewhere in my conscience, I recognized viscerally that would only lead to more tension and miscommunication within the team.

What I learned from this experience is that ignoring emotional outbursts doesn’t solve them. Instead, handling them thoughtfully can actually improve relationships and team dynamics. Here’s what I’ve discovered about managing these situations effectively.

Stay Calm and Lead by Example

When Sarah stormed out, my immediate reaction was panic. My thoughts raced: “What if she doesn’t come back? What do I tell the team?” But I knew that if I mirrored her frustration, the situation would only escalate further. Instead, I took a moment to collect myself and maintained a calm tone when I addressed the team.

Your ability to stay composed in emotionally charged moments sets the tone for everyone else. Calmness is contagious - it tells others that the situation is manageable.

Let Them Speak Without Interrupting

Later that day, I found Sarah in the breakroom. She looked frustrated, so I sat down and simply asked, “Hey, I noticed you seemed really upset earlier - what’s going on?” I didn’t try to fix the problem or interject; I just listened as she vented.

In that moment, I realized how rare it is for people to feel truly heard, especially in the workplace. Letting her speak uninterrupted gave her the space to work through her emotions - and it gave me valuable insight into the root cause of her frustration.

Validate Their Emotions (Even If You Don’t Agree) 

As Sarah shared her frustrations, I didn’t necessarily agree with everything she said. But I made sure to validate her feelings: “I can see why you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. It sounds like there’s a lot on your plate.” That simple acknowledgment diffused some of her anger.

Validation doesn’t mean you’re condoning bad behavior - it means you’re showing empathy. This can go a long way in de-escalating an emotional situation.

Set Boundaries When Needed

After Sarah had calmed down, I gently brought up how her outburst had affected the team. “I understand you were frustrated, but next time, let’s try to have that conversation before it boils over,” I said. She nodded, and we agreed to address challenges sooner moving forward.

Acknowledging emotions is important, but so is setting clear boundaries about behavior. This balance ensures that you’re compassionate without letting emotions derail professionalism.

Follow Up to Address the Root Cause

What I didn’t expect was that our brief conversation in the breakroom would be a turning point. Over the next few days, Sarah’s attitude shifted, and she began collaborating more openly with the team. But I knew the underlying stress wasn’t solved yet, so I scheduled a follow-up meeting to explore her concerns in more detail. Together, we identified ways to better support her role.

Follow-up conversations like these turn emotional moments into opportunities for growth. They show that you’re invested in finding long-term solutions - not just putting out fires.

Turning Emotional Outbursts into Opportunities

Looking back, Sarah’s emotional outburst wasn’t the problem - it was a symptom of deeper frustrations. By staying calm, listening, validating her feelings, and setting boundaries, I was able to turn a tense situation into a constructive one. 

Emotional outbursts don’t have to derail your team. When handled thoughtfully, they can actually strengthen trust and improve workplace dynamics.

With you on this journey, 
ANK