- What do you see as the difference between mindless complaining and justified complaining?
- What are some of the business and individual costs you have seen associated with negativity?
- Who do you see yourself most like and why? Jim? Dan? Or Hope?
- Should people be allowed to complain at work and do you think it is feasible to implement "The No Complaining Rule" at work (and/or home)?
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Cost of Negativity and Dealing with Complaining
Thanks to those who have begun to reflect and share with the group about the format, messages and lessons. To continue these discussions, please share your thoughts to the following questions
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What do you see as the difference between mindless complaining and justified complaining?
ReplyDeleteI think that the mindless complaints are more habit than anything else. Either way though, I personally believe (even after reading this book) that some cathartic complaining is personally healthy. I recently read a book called "Stop Smiling and Start Kaveching" and it seemed a little more healthy for the individual.
What are some of the business and individual costs you have seen associated with negativity?
The costs here at the University include students picking up on our negativity. Personally, I think too much negativity can hinder personal health and development.
Who do you see yourself most like and why? Jim? Dan? Or Hope?
I don't mean to take the easy way out, but I have to say "none of three." As an academic, I don't have this much power, influence or even involvement with co-workers. My negativity is usually a private thing that doesn't unduly affect co-workers. My need to keep it to a realistic level is more personal.
Should people be allowed to complain at work and do you think it is feasible to implement "The No Complaining Rule" at work (and/or home)?
Again, I think it is essential that people be permitted to complain, as I've seen the aftermath of bottled up negativity and it isn't pretty when it explodes. I think a realistic amount of complaining is like letting the soda cap off slowly after it's been upset. We know what happens if you don't allow this slow release... It's a matter of complaining in the right time and place and to a willing audience, rather than spewing all over folks who don't want to hear it when they have troubles, too.
Thanks for this interesting book. Even though it isn't my personal favorite, I've enjoyed reading it and interacting with y'all.
What do you see as the difference between mindless complaining and justified complaining?
ReplyDelete- I think when someone complains with purpose, they are focused on getting a solution. When I'm in the habit of complaining mindlessly, a solution is usually the last thing on my mind. If my problem gets solved, then what would I complain about? ;-)
What are some of the business and individual costs you have seen associated with negativity?
- I've seen negativity destroy communication. And that only added to the negativity. I'm sure those things together brought work efficiency down.
Who do you see yourself most like and why? Jim? Dan? Or Hope?
- I'd say I'm more like Hope than the other characters. She already knew and suggested some positive changes in her company, but didn't follow through. In the same way I know methods to keep a good attitude, but I don't always practice them.
Should people be allowed to complain at work and do you think it is feasible to implement "The No Complaining Rule" at work (and/or home)?
- I would agree with both points. Constructive complaints, as mentioned in the book, can be really useful when given to the right person. For implementing the rule, I think people have to agree to participate. Forcing it could create more negativity than anything else.
What do you see as the difference between mindless complaining and justified complaining?
ReplyDeleteLike others who have contributed to this discussion, I see mindless complaining as habit in some people. I honestly believe that there are those who just need to see the "negative" in everything but who have great difficulty seeing the posiitve and/or the opportunity offered by events around us. Mindless complaining is never solution-oriented; it's complaining for the sake of complaining. Justified complaining, on the other hand, includes not just a complaint but a reasonable justification for that complaint (and a possible openness to finding a solution).
What are some of the business and individual costs you have seen associated with negativity?
I think negativity is personally limiting (in both our personal and our business lives). It seems to me that when my colleagues express strong negativity about a situation, they're unwilling to consider creative solutions. In fact, I thik they really can't think creatively or critically when they insist on maintaining a negative attitude. From a personal perspective, I think negativity just saps our energy. Who has the energy to be happy or connected to the world when they spend so much energy looking for the negative side of everything?
Who do you see yourself most like and why? Jim? Dan? Or Hope?
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely not like Jim. Not only do I not think or expect the worst of people, I sometimes fail to recognize negative behaviors in others for what they are. I don't think I'm much like Dan either. Dan seems to be a very good leader who both recognizes and appreciates the diversity of approaches to problem solving. He delegates well (something I'm not very good at). I guess, then, that leaves Hope. In some ways I am very much like Hope. That is, I like to look for consensus and I'm pretty good at finding compromises. I tend to be pretty positive about life and work. And, I tend to expect the best of people. But, like most of us, I have experienced times in my life when I felt sorry for myself and let my focus on the difficulties in my life influence my view of the world. Luckily, those times have not lasted very long.
Should people be allowed to complain at work and do yo think it is feasible to implement the "No Complaining Rule" at work (and/or hme)?
Interesting question. I don't think we can keep people from complaining (at work or at home). But, we can rally the troops to respond to "mindless" complaining in ways that interrupt the cycle of negativity. For example, we can simply all learn to respond to the complaints of colleagues with a few key questions or ideas -- "Have you spokento so and so about that directly"? "Maybe that policy seems unfair to you. How would you change it?" etc. If we all engaged in this kind of restructuring of complaints, perhaps there would be less negativity (but what do I know?).