How to Deal with Disappointment at Work

Did your boss not appreciate your idea? Or did he talk rudely? Or did you not get the expected appraisal? It’s the same tale at most workplaces.

It often happens that we are unhappy with our workplace. Sometimes your boss might not appreciate your hard work. On other occasions, they might insult you in front of other colleagues for a minor mistake. These behaviors in an organization can lead to disappointment among employees.

Yet, if you wonder if you are the only one, you are not.

Continuous rejection of suggestions, negative feedback on work, and no progress at work make employees disappointed. Sadly, we learn theoretical knowledge in college, but no one tells us how to deal with disappointment at work.

Let us tell you how you can deal with such feelings at your workplace and avoid professional damage.

What is Disappointment?

Cambridge dictionary defines disappointment as “the unhappiness or discouragement that results when your hopes or expectations have not been satisfied, or someone or something that is not as good as you had hoped or expected.”

Disappointment is not among the six basic human emotions (fear, anger, joy, sadness, disgust, and surprise). Instead, it is a more complex emotion that arises when the emotions cycle through each other and expand. It is among the complex forms of sadness.

In simple words, disappointment is the feeling that expresses your sadness when the reality is not up to what you expected.

Is it ok to Feel Disappointed?

It is human nature to think about situations and expect a particular outcome. As disappointment occurs when the reality and expectations don’t match, it’s ok to feel so. However, it does not mean to keep feeling disappointed. Experiencing emotions is normal. Yet, it would help if you work to eliminate sadness and disappointment from life by addressing the issue and moving on.

How to Deal with Disappointment at Work

If you are disappointed in your boss or teammates for a long time, it may result in resentment. Thus, it is important to deal with disappointment at work timely. Here’s how you can handle disappointment at your office using emotional intelligence.

Do Not Hide

Workplaces now understand the importance of mental health more than ever. They realize how important it is for every employee to be in good mental health. Gone are the days when you had to bottle up your feelings to explode one day. If you are not happy about the affairs at your workplace, do not act like everything is ok. Most people cannot hide their anger or disappointment, and it shows on their faces.

So when someone comes to you asking why you are upset, tell them. Communicate with your boss directly if possible or convey it to the Human Resource Department. Denying it will make it difficult for you when you wish to talk about the problem later.

Vent

Venting is an excellent method to get everything out of your system and focus better on work. Besides telling someone on asking, you must not hesitate to vent to a dear friend. Make sure that you do not discuss with a coworker who might use your emotions against you. Look for a person who can give you insights into the matter without defying your feelings. Discussing with another person enables thinking from a different perspective and understanding aspects you might not have considered. You may also find better solutions to the situation.

Do Not Lash Out

Do you know why we mentioned conveying your emotions to your boss or HR instead of keeping to yourself? Let us tell you.

When you are disappointed at the workplace, you feel bad about almost everyone around you. Sometimes a person with no intention of hurting you might seem like they also do not value your input. Accept the differences at work without being disrespectful to the news bearer. Do not be upset at the coworker who comes to inform you of a project rejection. Attacking or belittling the other person will cause nothing but more mental stress. Try to be more composed at the workplace and express your disappointment professionally to the concerned people.

Avoid Hurried Decisions

If you have thought of resigning because you feel disappointed at work, we do not blame you.

We often tend to make hurried decisions when feeling angry, upset, or disappointed. That’s the worse you can do!

Remember not to make any immediate decisions when overwhelmed. The sudden rush of hormones causes you to make decisions you might regret later. It might seem like the best option to leave the job and end it all at once. Yet, do not rush to make such significant decisions without communicating your thoughts. At least try once to sort it out before signing the resignation.

Contemplate Recent Events

Have you wondered if your boss might be disappointed in you as well? We often do not realize how our actions affect the other person’s behavior. While you feel dejected, your managers might think you do not take work seriously. Take your time to understand what happened in the past days causing these problems. You might initially think that you are giving your best. Yet, there could be loopholes in your working processes. Reflect on your performance in the previous weeks to address the issue.

Get Over it

Now that you have vented out, communicated to your boss, and reflected on past events, it’s time to get over it. It might not be a one-day process for everyone. Take some time but do not build further resentment. Socialize with your coworkers, and they might also tell you if they share the same feelings. You can work together to help each other get these emotions out of your mind.

Plan Further

As it goes, “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.”

Strategize and plan your next steps to solve the issue. If you have not worked as well as you should have, improve your productivity and skills. Or have a detailed conversation with your manager if he understands how you feel. Do not let the overwhelming emotions get onto you and disrespect anyone.

The Bottom Line

Being disappointed with your office management is quite natural. Yet, you must know how to deal with disappointment at work gracefully. Talk to a friend, communicate your feelings to your manager and review your performance. Make sure not to disrespect anyone or make critical decisions suddenly. Lastly, but importantly, get over it gradually. Prolonged disappointment can lead to resentment and amplify issues within your workplace.