Ever felt like you're living an episode of 'The Office', dealing with your very own Dwight Schrute? In reality, a single person's negative attitude can have a ripple effect throughout an entire workspace. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant explains, "Negativity is like a virus; it can spread quickly and silently, affecting not only the individual but the entire organization."
Dealing with negative employees can be difficult. It can affect morale and team dynamics, leading to lower productivity. The Harvard Business Review published an article, 'The Price of Incivility' that revealed 98% of workers have experienced rudeness or negativity in the office at some point in their careers. The study goes on to reveal that 80% of people who experience negativity lose time worrying about the incident, leading to nearly half of them not working as hard or spending less time working.
Attempts to ignore or counter negative coworkers may only make things worse. But here's the good news: by being proactive, you can help the pessimist change their behavior and improve company culture. The goal is to turn discord into harmony. In this article, we will explore the causes of negativity in the workplace, effective communication strategies for coaching an employee with a negative attitude, and techniques that can bring about a positive change. By the end of this article, you will have the knowledge and tools to create a more positive, productive, and harmonious work environment.
Negative employees don't exist in a silo - and unfortunately there is an impact on the entire team which it is important to note.
Negative attitudes can greatly impact team dynamics. They can cause more conflicts, less collaboration, increased stress, and an overall sense of dissatisfaction within the team. While a little bit of "creative tension" or "healthy conflict" can be beneficial for generating new ideas and making better decisions, uncontrolled negativity can damage team unity and relationships.
The toll of negative coworkers on a team can take various forms including these:
Collaboration also suffers as workers try to avoid their aggressor. 78% feel their commitment to the organization decline. There are also real and immediate impacts: 25% had taken out their frustration on a customer and 12% had left their jobs. The effects range from insidious undermining of productivity and morale to the loss of key talent and damage to customer relationships.This research emphasizes the importance of not only acknowledging but also actively addressing negative attitudes in the workplace.
Clearly, addressing negativity in the workplace is important to having productive and engaged teams.
In any workplace, like any ecosystem, each individual has a crucial role in maintaining balance. Employee attitudes significantly affect the workplace environment. Understanding and identifying negative attitudes is essential for effective resolution.
Here are some common ways you may see negativity show up in the next work - as well as some ways to reframe them.
Understanding the origins of negativity in the workplace is an intricate task. It is important to approach this issue with sensitivity, avoiding stereotypes, and recognizing that human behavior is diverse and often deeply personal.
It's important to understand the difference between transient and chronic negativity. Transient negativity is just like a passing storm – it's only temporary and usually happens because of specific events (like a stressful project deadline).
On the other hand, chronic negativity is more deeply rooted and habitual. It's a consistent pattern of negative behavior and attitude that keeps going no matter what the circumstances are.
To better classify negativity in the workplace, let's consider some case examples. These scenarios illustrate temporary negative attitudes triggered by specific circumstances.
Each of these examples illustrates how negativity can stem from a variety of sources. Identifying these roots is the first step towards addressing and eventually transforming negative attitudes in the workplace.
If the situation is persistent and not attached to specific circumstance, it may be an ongoing and chronic issue. This might be seen in employees who consistently exhibit a negative attitude regardless of changes in circumstances or efforts to address their concerns.
Nipping negativity in the bud is crucial. The longer negative attitudes and behaviors are left unaddressed, the more they can permeate the workplace, impacting team morale and productivity. Early intervention prevents the spread of this 'negativity virus' and can make the difference between a temporary issue and a long-term problem. A proactive approach demonstrates to the team that management is committed to maintaining a positive company culture.
Setting the stage for a constructive conversation is key. This involves choosing the right time and place, ensuring privacy and a setting free from interruptions. It's important to approach the conversation with a clear objective – not to reprimand, but to understand and help. Managers should approach these conversations with an open mind and a non-accusatory tone.
This can be particularly challenging when dealing with behaviors that are disruptive or hard to understand. For instance, what might be perceived as negative by one person might not be intended as such by the employee exhibiting the behavior.
Empathy is vital to addressing negative attitudes. Listening actively and without judgment allows managers to understand the employee's perspective. It's about validating their feelings, even if you don't agree with their viewpoint.
This approach can help uncover underlying issues that may be contributing to the negative behavior, whether they are personal, related to workplace dynamics, or a mismatch between the employee's role and their strengths or interests.
Self-awareness plays a significant role in this process. It's important for managers to be aware of how their reactions and responses might be perceived by the employee. At the same time, part of the journey for the negative employee is developing self-awareness – understanding how their behavior affects others and how others perceive them.
This can be a delicate process, as pushing too hard for self-awareness can cause an employee to become defensive or shut down. By understanding these dynamics and approaching conversations with empathy and an open mind, managers can begin to effectively address negativity in the workplace.
These steps emphasize the importance of early intervention and a proactive approach, demonstrating commitment to a positive work environment and addressing negativity constructively.
Managers play a pivotal role in shaping the workplace environment. Their behavior sets a precedent for the team's conduct and attitude. When managers consistently exhibit positive behaviors, such as effective communication, transparency, and approachability, they create a standard for the team to emulate. A manager's ability to remain constructive and optimistic, even in challenging situations, can inspire employees to adopt a similar outlook.
Recognizing achievements, whether through formal awards or simple verbal acknowledgments in team meetings, reinforces positive behaviors and motivates employees to maintain or improve their performance. The former CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, often recognized the efforts of his employees, even writing thousands of personal notes to employees each year. His commitment to employee recognition helped create a positive and loyal workforce. For negative employees, such recognition can be particularly transformative. It serves as a reminder that their contributions are meaningful and noticed, countering feelings of insignificance or dissatisfaction that often underlie negative attitudes.
Encouraging collaborative work, whether through team projects or joint problem-solving sessions, helps build a sense of community within the workplace. As team members interact more closely, they develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's strengths and challenges, leading to a more cohesive and supportive work environment. Pixar's collaborative approach to filmmaking, where creativity and ideas are openly shared among team members, is a great example of reducing isolation through teamwork. This collaborative environment encourages everyone to contribute, ensuring that no one feels disconnected or undervalued. Close workplace relationships play a pivotal role in driving employee engagement and organizational success.
Take the bond between mentor-mentee duos like Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil. Oprah's guidance helped launch Dr. Phil's career, showing the power of mentorship. In the workplace, pairing a negative employee with a more positive, experienced colleague can provide them with practical advice and a different perspective, helping them navigate challenges more effectively.
These activities, ranging from creative workshops to outdoor team challenges, encourage employees to interact in a non-work-related setting. For negative employees, these activities can be a platform for breaking out of their usual patterns of interaction and seeing their colleagues in a new light. Spotify organizes hack weeks where employees form teams to work on creative projects outside their regular responsibilities. This initiative not only sparks innovation but also builds trust and camaraderie among employees, both essential elements for a positive work environment.
Regular team meetings, feedback sessions, or anonymous suggestion systems are effective ways to ensure that every employee’s voice is heard. It gives negative employees a constructive outlet for their frustrations and ensures that their opinions are considered in decision-making processes. Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has an open-door policy that encourages employees to speak directly with their managers or even the company’s CEO about any concerns or suggestions. This policy fosters a culture of openness and trust within the company.
For any approach to work you will need to find a way to effectively communicate with the employee. Communication is a critical tool in addressing and coaching an employee with a negative attitude.
Understanding different workstyles is crucial in this context, and tools like Happy can be very valuable to develop such understanding. Consider an employee who is very task-focused, direct, and less engaged in social interactions, which could be misconstrued as negativity. On the other hand, a colleague who is characterized by enthusiasm and a focus on relationships might perceive this behavior as unfriendly or uncooperative.
The key here is recognizing that these are simply different approaches to work and communication, not necessarily indicative of negative attitudes. Using Happy Coach to navigate these conversations provides you with specific, always-on, expert advice that is personalized to both you and the employee and can provide specific communication strategies.
Employing these communication strategies can significantly aid in addressing negativity in the workplace, paving the way for a more harmonious and productive environment.
In the wise words of Winston Churchill, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." This rings especially true in the workplace, where the collective attitude shapes our daily experiences. Crafting a positive workplace is similar to nurturing a garden; it requires patience, care, and attentiveness to the weeds of negativity that may arise. By coaching employees with negative attitudes early, engaging in empathic dialogue, and fostering a culture of appreciation, we sow the seeds of positivity. In this space, every employee has the potential to thrive, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and collaboration. Together, we can create a workplace that is not only functional but truly thriving.
Happy Cofounder James Lawrence discusses how leaders can empower their teams through intentional practices.
Transform your workplace by addressing negativity head-on with proven strategies to build positivity.
Tune into The Thoughtful Entrepreneur podcast featuring James Lawrence, as he discusses how Happy's AI coaching platform enhances team dynamics in hybrid work settings.