4 Ways to Survive If Someone Loses It On You

Here are a few tips to consider when you’re faced with another person’s angry meltdown, in the office, or in your personal life:

1. First, remain calm. Breathe. If you also get upset, the situation is sure to escalate and spiral in the wrong direction.
2. Don’t argue. Within your own mind, be firmly committed to not go back at them, tit for tat.
3. Validate the person’s feelings. Make brief statements that indicate you understand the reason for their upset…you’re not agreeing, just respecting their reality.
4. If circumstances permit, agree on a specific time to talk, later. Suggest the person jot down their specific concerns and bring them to the meeting. Then, be prepared to listen actively and ask open-ended questions to understand fully.