Here we look at negative emotions that you can experience in your role as a business analyst and what you can do to control those emotions.
Anger
Anger is an awful emotion and often one that makes many of us feel out of control. If you are having spates of anger, it is really important that you take the time to manage these feelings as they could have a detrimental effect on your career as a business analyst. To deal with anger try:
Knowing Yourself – You should get to know the very early feelings of anger you experience so you can learn how to put a lid on it as soon as you see a sign. You can also start to train yourself to respond differently if you get to know your triggers.
Learn To Stop – If you do start to get angry learn to stop yourself, take a deep breath and actively interrupt your ‘path of anger’.
Mirror Yourself – As horrible as it is to do, if you can imagine yourself when you are being angry, it might shock you into feeling ashamed, and therefore avoiding the situation. Then replace those thoughts with images of you reacting positively and calmly.
Not Liking Someone
You will have to work with people you don’t like some of the time, after all as a business analyst you are required to work with lots and lots of different people; you can hardly hide away and work on your own. In this situation you have to remain professional, which can be hard. To avoid reacting negatively to working with someone you don’t like:
Show Respect – You might not have to like a person, but you do have to show them respect. Drop your ego and be polite at all times, so that person gets the same treatment as everyone else. This applies even if they are being unprofessional.
Do Not Gossip – You may want to vent to colleagues about the person you don’t like, but that doesn’t mean you should go and do that. Do not talk negatively about the person you don’t like to anyone at work. Instead, have a good rant when you get home to your partner or friends, in an environment where you can get it off your chest without it harming your role as a professional BA.
Do Not Take Nastiness From The Person You Do Not Like – If the other person is acting unprofessionally towards you, be assertive and say that you won’t be treated like that and then take yourself out of the situation. Seek help from HR or higher management if you need to.
Sadness
Being sad or unhappy at work can be really hard. If you are very emotional, it can make you appear weak or unprofessional. If you feel sad, you might not be able to work as well as usual. To deal with sadness or unhappiness at work:
Deal With Any Underlying Issues – If you have any underlying issues causing you to feel sadness, deal with them. Perhaps you don’t love your job, you have problems in your personal life, or maybe you are even depressed. Seek help and seek to resolve the root cause of your unhappiness if possible.
Develop A “Glass Half Full” Mindset – You will get times when you are sad at work. Try to always be positive, remember that for every down there is an up. As a business analyst you are well-used to finding solutions to any problem, so approach your sad feelings in the same way.
Refer To Your Goals – If you have experienced a setback, refer to your goals so you can check how much it has set you back. The chances are, it won’t have affected your long term goal much at all.
Exercise – It might be hard dragging yourself into the gym, but not long into a good cardio session, your brain will start to feel boosted and happy because natural hormones will be released.
Remember…
If any of your emotions feel more extreme than they should, seek professional help. If you simply need guidance in dealing with your emotions better in your job, look for specific training that approaches this area.
