Sheakley Updates

Navigating the Negative Nancy

Chelsea Bikner
positive work environment
Reading time 3 Mins
Published on Dec 12
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Most companies find success in creating a positive work environment for their employees. You search for the perfect candidates to fill the roles within your company, ensuring your growth and success. But all it takes is one negative employee to transform your workplace from a productive, pleasurable place to work into a nightmare for fellow employees. Understanding how to effectively handle negative attitudes from coworkers will not only allow you to establish a healthier, positive work environment for all employees, it can also help you retain your more dedicated and engaged employees.

You can’t control their behavior

The first thing that your managers – and coworkers of the negative Nancy – need to understand is that you can’t control the behavior or attitude of others. You can, however, control how you respond to it and how you allow it to affect you. You probably can’t cut off all contact with a negative employee or coworker, but you can limit your responses and interactions to professional subjects only. When the conversation starts to take a negative turn, redirect the topic back to work and try to keep things on a neutral or positive tone.

Professional development opportunities

Sometimes employees develop less than stellar attitudes toward work when they feel that they aren’t being challenged or don’t have adequate opportunities to develop and grow within the company. Assure your employees that there are opportunities for promotion and career growth for them within the company. And be honest when there aren’t.

Develop mentoring programs that encourage managers and executives to take younger employees under their wing and teach them about the bigger picture and to share their knowledge of the company. Offer regular employees the opportunity to attend conferences, seminars, and take classes that will give them a leg up when it comes time to take on additional responsibilities or seek a promotion.

Listen to what they’re really saying

Encourage negatively minded employees to direct their concerns to their supervisor or the HR department. Sometimes employees develop a negative mindset because of legitimate concerns about the workplace, management, the future of the company, or due to personal issues. By talking these issues out with higher-ups in the company, the negative Nancy make actually be able to inspire positive change in the company and in their own mindset.

Nipping negativity in the bud

Toxic attitudes can distract your valuable attention from growing your business and prevent your employees from being as productive as they otherwise would be. Help your negative employee and their coworkers develop more productive ways of expressing their concerns in the workplace.

Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. How do you ensure that you are creating a positive work environment for your employees? Join in the discussion by commenting below.


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