5 Tips for Handling Negative Behaviour

We are often faced with difficult personalities. Negative behaviour in teams is destructive and needs to be handled directly and calmly.

Handling Negative Behaviour

Handling negative behaviour in your team can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. What’s more, negative behaviour will gradually undermine team performance.

That’s my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back. If it’s not positive, I didn’t hear it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy. – George Foreman

Being proactive does help the pessimist change their behaviour and allow the team to achieve greater productivity.

Here are 5 tips for handling negative behaviour:

1. Ignore

When people make brief negative comments in conversation simply overlook them and continue to talk about the original subject as if their comment was never made.

Hopefully, your lack of acknowledgement will discourage them!

2. Disagree

Directly and calmly disagree with negative comments by stating positive opinions.

This will stop their negative argument growing momentum.

3. Speak Up

Never remain silent or agree with negative opinions (if you disagree) since this will act to encourage their point of view.

4. Be Positive

Avoid arguments. Instead, restate the same goal or point in a positive way using the broken record metaphor if necessary.

5. Seek a Solution

Throw back their negativity by asking for and expecting a practical solution to the problem.

Turning their negative energy may result in new ideas.

Negativity can only feed on negativity. – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Negative people suck the life out of us.

Their negative energy spills over leaving everyone with a bad taste. Worst still, they can draw you into their view of the world. As a supervisor or team leader you have responsibility for handling negative behaviour in the workplace.

How often do you grumble or blame other people?

Are you aware of the impact you have on others? What’s your best tip for handling negative behaviour?

Creative Commons image courtesy Phil Rogers.