One consistent finding when you try to understand and fix the sea of negativity that exists in some workplaces is a bad boss. You can find out how to deal with a bad boss. This topic is a perennial favorite on my site. No matter how often I write about how to deal with a bad boss, readers want to know more. Their favorite complaint and the topic they are most likely to post about on my site is also bad bosses.
Address Your Sea of Negativity
I look at a bad boss as a particularly powerful factor in the sea of negativity that pervades some workplaces, but employees have other reasons for feeling negative at work. And sometimes employees just get caught up in what feels like a sea of negativity.
Once employee negativity takes hold in your workplace, it is incredibly difficult to dislodge. So, the key to taking care of negative factors such as bad bosses, difficult coworkers, bullies, gossip, and a lack of communication and direction, is to never allow them to get started in the first place.
Five Causes of Employee Negativity
A couple of years ago, Towers Perrin (now Towers Watson) and researchers Gang & Gang interviewed employees and discovered the five main causes of employee negativity. A number of these are factors that come up repeatedly when readers talk about why their bosses are bad. Nip these in the bud to discourage a negative workplace:
- An excessive workload;
- Concerns about management's ability to lead the company forward successfully;
- Anxiety about the future, particular longer-term job, income and retirement security;
- Lack of challenge in their work, with boredom intensifying existing frustration about workload; and
- Insufficient recognition for the level of contribution and effort provided, and concerns that pay isn't commensurate with performance.
Workplace Negativity Poll
What causes negativity in your workplace? Comment and vote in the poll.
What Is the Primary Cause of Negativity in Your Work Place? (Choose Only One)- Lack of direction from management.
- Constant change that is not well-communicated.
- Poor communication overall.
- An excessive workload.
- Lack of challenge, boredom.
- Insufficient recognition for the level of contribution and effort provided.
- Anxiety about the future: job security, retirement income.
- Other. Please respond in “comments” below.
- View Results
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More About Employee Negativity
Great post. The bullet list of factors leading to a negative workplace make for good thinking material.
Another matter that contributes to a negative workplace is reluctance to speak up. Managing up, when done in a respectful and factual manner, is a powerful way for employees and managers to positively influence their environment. If it doesn’t work, we can always vote with our feet, confident in the knowledge that we did our part to create change.
Define “Lack of Direction”. I supervise a non-profit organization. My employees are provided job descriptions, verbal communication/direction concerning the end results needed for a project, and how to do the job in steps if its a first time endeavor. They are provided all supplies and equipment to do their jobs. They are given “atta-boys” for work well done, “thank yous” at the end of the day, as many perks as can be afforded: birthday acknowledgement’s, semi-annual social with the volunteers, complimentary shirts. However, they just don’t seem to go beyond what is directly in front of them. The “make it happen” attitude just isn’t there and I can’t figure out why. All of them have been with me more than 1 year, so the work atmosphere can’t be the problem. However, whenever I try to raise the standard of performance, they balk. I often have to repeat my directions more than 3-4 times with them, and it isn’t until I say “You just HAVE to do it or else” that they move in the direction they have been given. One employee asks the same questions for months. I can’t figure out if she is that dense or is just playing dumb so others will do her work.
While I think you make some valid points concerning negativity in the workplace, especially concerning your point of negativity being difficult to dislodge once it takes hold. I have been involved in numerous turnaround situations and a positive work environment can be created and maintained by addressing a couple of key issues. First, leaders at the top need to take control and own the problem. Then the performance expectations for every employee at every level (especially management) must be communicated and understood. Any employee who is not contributing to the team should be given one warning and then terminated if there is not immediate improvement. Since I believe at least 90% of people want to succeed, reinforce and reward good performance- don’t reinforce the complainers. Get everyone focused on solutions and results.