Concepts to Remember about Cranky Coworkers

1. Anger is a normal emotion.

2. Angry behavior is a choice.

3. Learn how to say no gracefully.

4. Let cranky people be cranky; don’t take it personally.

5. Style differences can create barriers between people, if we let them.

6. Separate yourself from your ideas and your work product.

7. Let others take the time they need to mentally process information—it is not a matter of intellect, it is a matter of style.

8. Set high personal standards for your own behavior.

9. Set—and enforce—strong boundaries around how others can treat you.

10. The best anger diffuser of all is to breathe.