A negative workplace can be one of the most challenging aspects of your professional career. Whether the negativity comes from colleagues, your manager, or the overall workplace culture, it can make every day a drag. So how can you prevail against all the negativity? Here are few tips to help you focus on yourself and your work — and not the negativity.
Break the Chain
Workplace negativity may get you down and even make you more negative without realizing it. Take a moment to step back and think about your own thoughts and behavior. See if you can identify any negativity that you are bringing to work. If you find that you are, in fact, bringing some negativity of your own, consider how you can change that. In what areas can you be more positive, let things go, or create a more productive experience for yourself and others? Doing so will help you break the chain of negativity not only for yourself, but also for your colleagues.
Celebrate All Progress
Celebrating progress — big or small — is a great way to prevail in a negative workplace. Whether you just finished a major project or your colleague was able to effectively get their point across to a difficult client, celebrate! This may be as small as saying, “Great job!” or as large as having a party. Celebrating progress will help you and your team to recognize all the wins and the good work that you all are doing every day. Over time, people’s viewpoints may make a positive shift.
Don’t Take It Personally
Often, the negative interactions you have with a colleague or manager aren’t really about you or your work. You don’t necessarily know what that person is dealing with in their personal life, and there may be difficulties in their professional life that you aren’t privy to. So don’t take the negativity personally. It may have nothing to do with you, and focusing on it will only impact your work and your own attitude. Let it slide and focus on what you can control — being a productive and positive employee.
Walk Away
Sometimes the negativity can be too much. When that happens, walk away or excuse yourself from the conversation. Close the door to your office, go to the restroom, or grab a cup of coffee. You are not obligated to listen, support, or agree with a negative colleague or manager. Engaging, even to try to provide a more positive viewpoint, often doesn’t help. Instead, remain professional and remove yourself from the situation.
Consider Your Options
When all else fails and the negativity isn’t getting better, consider your options. Ask yourself if remaining in your current role or at the current organization is right for you. If you like the organization, you may be able to move to another team or role that would allow you some space from the negativity. Or you may want to explore outside options. You need to do what is best for you so that you remain a productive and positive team member.
We all deal with some degree of workplace negativity. While some forms are more pervasive than others, workplace negativity can lead to stress and anxiety and create a less-than-supportive environment. Instead of getting pulled into the negativity, use these tips to navigate around those with poor attitudes and focus on yourself and your work.
ON TOPIC
Amy Brady, the founder of StandUP, works with nonprofit organizations to support them in increasing their impact through the development of emotional intelligence practices. New awareness leads to an intentional change in actions and new, positive results. StandUP works with individuals, teams, and organizations to break down barriers and maximize what's possible.
What are some strategies for avoiding negative energy while remaining a team player?
Negative energy in a workplace can spread like a virus. Where negativity pervades an organization or team culture, it can actually become the basis for building relationships and a sense of belonging. Individuals bond by having a "common enemy." Maybe it's the boss, or a coworker, or the direction of the organization. Think of what sometimes happens in break rooms, after work at happy hours, or even through texts during virtual meetings. Energy is spent relating based on the negative versus relating based on shared goals, problem solving, or serving the organization's mission. This is why it can be so difficult to break the cycle. It's also what leads to burnout and turnover. So what can you do if you find yourself surrounded by negativity?
Set boundaries. Limit the amount of time you spend in spaces where negativity abounds. Skip that happy hour. Eat lunch outside rather than in a break room. Attend meetings when required but don't stay after. Be aware that this can sometimes feel isolating if your team bonds through negativity, but you will maintain your own energy to use on the things that really matter to you.
Consciously choose how you want to show up. We often "take on" the energy of those around us when we are operating unconsciously. To interrupt this way of being, intentionally pause before attending meetings or interacting with coworkers. Ask yourself how you want to show up. What matters most to you? What value and energy do you want to bring to the space? And then take consistent action.
Ask forward-thinking questions. If your team is persistently complaining, upset, frustrated, or angry, instead of joining in, ask a question to shake up the energy. Some examples: "What is one thing we can do to move this situation forward?" "What's one thing that's working?" "How much longer are we willing to be upset without doing something different?" Having these questions in your back pocket will give you a go-to when the negativity is present.
