Mastering Your Emotions: Four Immediate Steps for Surgeons to Manage Anger

Surgeons live and work in a pressure cooker. The demands of patient care, the intensity of the operating room, and the weight of responsibility can sometimes make anger bubble up when you least expect it. And if you don’t manage that anger, it can erode your relationships and affect patient outcomes. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are four practical, immediate steps you can take to keep your cool and stay at your best—professionally and personally.

1. Recognize Your Triggers

Anger doesn’t come out of nowhere. There are always triggers, and once you know what yours are, you can prepare for them. As a surgeon, your triggers might look like this:

     •     The tension of performing complex procedures under a time crunch.

     •     Communication breakdowns with staff, or differences in how people handle stress.

     •     Fatigue—long hours, back-to-back surgeries, and the unrelenting grind.

Identifying these triggers is step one. It’s not about eliminating stress, but knowing when it’s coming so you can manage your response.

2. Pause Before You React

When things heat up, it’s easy to react too quickly. But for surgeons, every second matters—not just on the operating table but in how you interact with your team. A split-second decision to pause before reacting can be the difference between escalating a situation and diffusing it. Take a deep breath, count to ten—do whatever it takes to give yourself that moment to choose a more thoughtful response. It’s one of the most effective ways to manage emotions in high-pressure environments.

3. Build Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is what separates good surgeons from great leaders. When you can recognize and regulate your own emotions—and understand what others are feeling—you bring more calm and clarity to the OR. It starts with:

     •     Self-awareness: How do you handle stress? How do your emotions affect your decision-making?

     •     Self-regulation: Can you stay composed when things don’t go as planned?

     •     Empathy: Are you tuned in to the emotions of your team and patients?

Developing these skills will not only enhance your leadership as a surgeon but create a more cohesive, supportive environment for everyone around you.

4. Find Healthy Outlets for Stress

Let’s be honest—surgery is stressful. Without healthy outlets, that stress builds up and will find a way out, often through anger or burnout. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether it’s regular exercise (a run, yoga, or cycling), mindfulness practices like meditation, or working with a coach or counselor, having a release valve for stress is critical. These small changes add up, helping you manage the intensity of your work without letting it take over your life.

Take Action Now

Anger doesn’t have to control you. By recognizing your triggers, pausing before you react, developing emotional intelligence, and finding healthy outlets for stress, you’ll not only improve your work relationships and patient care—you’ll feel more in control of yourself. It’s a small investment with massive payoffs.

If this resonates with you, and you’re ready to dive deeper into these strategies, connect with Patrick Hudson MD, FACS at Coaching for Physicians. Together, we’ll work on stress management, emotional regulation, and leadership—helping you maintain balance while thriving in your surgical career.

References:

1.     Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence. Bantam Books.

(A comprehensive guide on how emotional intelligence impacts leadership, teamwork, and performance in high-stress environments like surgery.)

2.     Gabbard, G. O., & Menninger, R. W. (1989). The Psychology of Surgeons: A Psychodynamic Perspective. Journal of the American Medical Association.

(This article delves into the unique psychological stresses that surgeons face and offers insights into emotional management.)

3.     Hulsman, R. L., & Plaisant, O. (2005). Emotional Intelligence in Medical Training: A Mixed-Methods Review. Medical Education.

(A thorough review of how emotional intelligence training can improve communication and stress management in medical professionals.)

4.     Shanafelt, T. D., & Dyrbye, L. N. (2017). Physician Burnout: A Crisis in Health Care. Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

(A critical look at physician burnout, providing insight into the role stress and emotional regulation play in sustaining a medical career.)

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