7 Ways to Not Only Survive But Prosper Around Negative People
To be an entrepreneur, you must have a thick skin and not be defensive in the face of constructive criticism and customer feedback. No entrepreneur, on the other hand, should tolerate negative vibes and complainers on their own team. The challenge is to distinguish between these two scenarios and respond effectively to both. It is impossible to maintain a positive attitude while reinforcing negative thinking.
Even actively listening to negative team members and partners, as you would with customers, will keep the toxic habit going. Furthermore, other members of your team may become infected with the same negativity, eroding the passion and innovation required to compete and survive. In my experience, good entrepreneurs actively reduce negativity by doing the following:
1. They suppress their own sporadic negativity in front of the team.
When the economy turns against us, investors can't be found, or a customer turns into a nightmare, we're all frustrated. In these situations, you must keep your thoughts to yourself and serve as a positive role model for creative solutions. What they see and hear will be put into practice by your team.
2. Identify and highlight potential positives in each negative.
If your team is experiencing quality issues prior to shipment, remind them that it is fantastic that these issues were discovered before customers were impacted. Everyone, including yourself, will eventually feel defeated and de-energized if you do not take action.
3. Return responsibility to the complainer and request solutions.
When team members are frustrated and simply want to vent, asking them to bring you solutions rather than problems will set a more positive tone and may prevent future negative outbursts. Those who refuse to learn will face immediate job reassignment and performance counseling.
4. Don't accept justifications for any negative outcomes.
Excuses are a way of avoiding full responsibility for actions that result in a negative outcome. Worse, some people believe that being negative is a good way to impress others with their wisdom. Make it clear to complainers through your reward system that excuses do not mitigate failures.
5. Avoid engaging complainers on their level.
If none of these approaches work, it is best to postpone the discussion to a more neutral time and place. Trying too hard to persuade people to accept your point of view will almost certainly result in you becoming the target of permanently severing the relationship. It is preferable to listen in silence.
6. Physically remove yourself from a toxic environment.
Presence without engagement may be interpreted as tacit agreement, so it's best to leave the situation and go somewhere neutral and quiet. The last thing you want is to be reduced to the same level as everyone else and lose your ability to provide positive leadership to the team.
7. Ignore minor flaws in yourself and others.
Even the most successful professionals and leaders are prone to being negative on occasion. In times of stress, when people are physically or mentally exhausted, or when multiple deadlines loom, it's human nature. The challenge is to make lapses less frequent rather than more frequent as a habit.
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