If the negativity emanates from an individual, you can:
- Inform the employee about the negative impact her negativity is having on co-workers and the department. Use specific examples that describe behaviors the employee can do something about.
- Avoid becoming defensive. Don’t take the employee’s negative words or attitude personally.
- Focus on creating solutions. Don’t focus on everything that is wrong and negative; focus instead on creating options for positive morale. If the person is unwilling to hold this discussion, and you feel you have fairly heard her out, end the discussion.
- Focus on the positive aspects and contributions the individual brings to the work setting, not the negativity. Help the employee build her self-image and capacity to contribute.
- Compliment the individual any time you hear a positive statement or contribution rather than negativity from her.
If none of the above is working and the employee’s negativity is impacting productivity, workplace harmony, and department members’ attitudes and morale, deal with the negativity as you would any other performance issue.
Recognize Your Potential Part in the Negativity Cycle
- Recognize that you are human and occasionally experience situations in which you must uphold decisions you don't entirely support. You don't want to contribute to the negativity by your words, actions, non-verbal behavior, or voice. Yet, you want to act authentically so you are trustworthy and credible.
- Know yourself well enough to recognize internally when you are becoming negative.
- Become aware of work situations in which you typically find yourself becoming defensive or negative. Because you are aware of them, try to recognize when you are reacting and avoid your typical negative reaction. (Some people figure out exactly how to get you going and push your "hot buttons" deliberately, so to speak.)
- Take a time-out or walk away by yourself when you have dealt with a stressful situation.
- Spend some time alone thinking every day about the positive aspects of your work and life. You don't want to spend all of your time on negative thinking. If there is nothing positive to think about, examine the life you are choosing to create.
- Treat yourself with care. Don't beat yourself up or second-guess yourself over decisions or mistakes. You are human. You learn; you grow. Focus on the big picture; don't get bogged down in the day-to-day.
Recognize that the only thing you are truly in charge of is how you choose to react to and in any situation. I trust that these ideas will help you in addressing the negativity in your workplace.
As always, your thoughts and additional ideas are always welcome. Please share them in the HR Forum so a broader group of people can benefit from your thinking.
Read the first part of Cures for Negativity.