Anger in the workplace is on the rise. I'm not talking about the extreme cases of shootings or other violent acts but about rudeness, yelling and verbal abuse. They now have a new description - Desk Rage.  In a  shocking statistic from Reuters, almost 50% of American workers reported experiencing desk rage on the job. As more people become stressed out over the current economic crisis, they are more likely to be short tempered. Rising prices may limit their ability to let off steam with hobbies or other weekend pastimes. According to Anna Maravelas, author of How to Reduce Workplace Conflict and Stress, people reassure themselves by blaming others and "find comfort in believing their suffering is caused by a callous, incompetent or selfish organization, leader, supplier, union or regulatory body."

I wouldn't attempt to address such a complex subject as Desk Rage in a short blog post, but I will offer one suggestion. Add some stress relieving activities into the daily office routine. These don't have to be major productions, in fact, it's better if they aren't. Every team has a group personality. Pick some things that fit that personality. Here are some examples:

• Take a coffee break together. Don't discuss work.
• Go out of the office for lunch as a team. Don't discuss work
• At the end of a team meeting, have a discussion about your favorite team or the latest sporting event

In my last assignment, I kept a candy dish on my desk. It became a light hearted source of entertainment. It was impossible to open the glass jar without it being heard in the adjoining cubicles. That ringing glass lid became a perfect opportunity for us to gather in my office, take a short break and discuss the day. It became an inside joke in my team about was eating the most and who was going to fill the dish when I went on vacation.

Things like this may not eliminate desk rage, but they will help you connect with your team members. That alone may help you identify and head off potential problems.