The Hidden Virus at Work
By Leanne Crain
That hidden virus . . . no, it's not on your computer, and no, it's not the flu! The hidden virus I'm referring to is negativity. While this topic is a vast one, in today's tough economic times it could be spreading like wildfire through your team.
We've probably all been in teams like this at some point in our careers. You dread coming in each day, everyone is miserable all day, you watch the clock counting the minutes until the end of the day, and maybe you even complain about your team or job. This type of negativity sucks the energy out of a team. Teams feed off the energy of those around them, and negativity will creep through a team faster than you can imagine. Regardless of how it began, you can take steps to exclude yourself from it, or try to improve the attitude of the team in general. Here are just a few ideas:
- Start by changing your attitude. Think of the things you love about your work. Write them down on a piece of paper, in case you need to reference it in the future. Try to add to it if you can.
- Watch who you hang around with - pay attention to their attitudes. Are they positive or negative? Be more aware of those around you.
- Avoid negative conversations if you can. We've all seen or been in that little group huddled off in the corner whispering. Treat it like a contagion! If you aren't currently in that conversation, stay away from it. If you are in it, try your best to put a positive spin on it when it's your turn to talk, or excuse yourself from it as soon as you can.
- Don't listen to only one side of the story; try to get all sides if you can.
- If you are the team leader, acknowledge the negativity. Sit down with your team and let them tell you what they are feeling. Rather than attacking these feelings, ask them to help you come up with solutions to make it better.
- Also, as a team leader, being positive doesn't mean lying about situations. This is just deceit. If your team has been having a rough couple of months, pasting a smile on and telling them it will be fine isn't going to help. Instead, acknowledge it in a problem solving way. I.E. "We've had a tough couple of months, but I know we can work together to get through this. Let's sit down and come up with solutions together".
The main thing is to try to keep up your positive attitude. You may not be able to change those around you, but why should that mean you have to get "sick" too? This does not mean leaving your emotions at home; they are a part of you. Simply try your best to stay positive, and share that feeling with others.
For more in-depth consultation or facilitation on conflict resolution and positive workplaces, please contact Gary Gzik at ggzik@bizxcel.com.
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Leanne Crain is a Marketing and Administrative Assistant for BizXcel. Her background is marketing and tourism, and she has over 12 years experience in the sales and marketing field.
