Victor Smith July 4 th 2011

Complaining in the work place environment and how to combat its

negative effects.

Outline

Is complainin

g contagious

?

Why do people

complain?

Is complaining harmful

in the work place?

How much complaining is ok if

any?

Ways focus your

complaints effectively.

Maintaining a positive

work environme

nt

Summary

Everyone at some point in their lives and careers has complained about something or someone. There are several basic questions that will be discussed and analyzed in an attempt to answer these issues

Is complaining contagious in the

work place and is it harmful?

Why do we

complain in the first

place?

How much complaining is

ok if any?

And

finally things we can do to make a positive

impact in the work place.

Since the dawn of time man has found many opportunities to complain about things in his

daily life. I’m sure that Eve had plenty of ammunition to feed into her complaining weapon

that was focused on Adam.

Is complaining contagious?

No Whining Zone!

Have you ever had a boss or supervisor that everyone you

worked with didn’t like?

How often during lunch did you gather around and discuss

how ineffective they were at managing the shift or store?

If you have had more than one job than you most likely know

what I’m talking about. It only takes one negative comment

from someone and Shazam! The conversation lights up.

You may have had conversations complaining about each other’s boss or work nemesis

discussing the annoying similarities. In the end nothing useful was accomplished and your dislike

for the individual may have deepened.

Why do people complain?

“People complain because they have an unmet need. They may want a social connection so they begin a conversation by complaining.”

Women, Z. (2007, December 17). Why do people complain?. Retrieved from Http://crypto-cranium. Blogspot. Com/2007/12/why-do-people-complain. Html.

Most people enjoy some measure of

complaining.

Complaining can be cathartic and

at the same time it can

relieve a small amount of

pressure as long as it kept to a

minimum.

Is complaining harmful in the work place?

For most people a job is just that, a job and we spend a great deal of time at our jobs trying to make a living so that we can spend time away from work in our happy

place.

Is complaining in the work place harmful? continued

most of us are happy if we can tolerate the daily grind.

let’s be honest we don’t want to spend most of our time in a

bad mood or listening to someone complain.

Especially, when it becomes repetitive and is not used in a

constructive manner.

“Negative complaint is a disease that can corrupt the mind. The more someone complains the more natural it is and the

more cynical and jaded they become. In the end they see only the negativity in everything.”

Muller , T. (2010, July 13). Complaining: counter-productive in the workplace? . Retrieved from Http://www. Complaintexpert. Co. Uk/complaining-counterproductive-workplace. Html.

We become less motivated about work when we are unhappy

about our job or situation.

It takes a lot of effort to overcome our

negative feelings or attitude and get

motivated to create and generate new

ideas.

Constant complaining will kill the positive

environment and bring mental stagnation.

Reasons why complaining in the work place is harmful

How much complaining is ok if any?

The simple and honest answer depends on the situation and how often

you complain

If you are known as someone who complains a lot chances are you’re

over the limit

Complaining in the end will drive people from you and possibly hurt

advancement opportunities.

“One thing to consider is that those who complain end up having to be

compliant more often anyway. That’s because complaints rarely offer a solution when bringing up the problem. Offering up solutions

brings more opportunities”

Vardy, M. (2011, March 15). Why complaining doesnt work. Retrieved from Http://workawesome. Com/career/why-complaining-doesnt-work/.

How can we make a positive effect

in the work

place?

Cultivating Positive Attitudes at Work

Encourage others to provide

constructive feed back

If you don’t ask you wont

know

Create solutions

to the problems

Know what you don’t

want

“unconstructive complaining is a tar-pit that can eventually trap even the sunniest, most optimistic person in a

sticky hell of perpetual, ineffectual and often petty dissatisfaction from which people

aren’t really seeking a way out.”

Ways focus your complaints effectively.

Be constructive. If your going to complain provide

solutions

Choose the best time to complain. It should be released at a time when the most energy can be focused in the problem.

Make sure to complain to the one who can take either take direct or indirect action to resolving the complaint.

Kjerulf, A. (2006, August 31). How to complain constructively. Retrieved from Http://positivesharing. Com/2006/08/how-to-complain-constructively/.

Maintaining a positive work environment

Show

you

r

cow

orke

rs y

ou

appr

ecia

te

thei

r eff

orts

Take time out

for yourself to

reenergize

Volunteer your services to

your coworkers

Resist the

temptation to

voice negative

thoughts and

ideas.

Despite the fact that complaining is highly contagious and very addictive. With mental effort and discipline we have the tools at our

disposal to turn any negative work environment into a positive and healthy

working relationship.