Workplace Communication: How to Deal With Workplace Complainers

It is really important that workplace communication be positive even if you have problems that have to be solved. This article will teach you how to deal with negative complainers in your workplace.

Do you have on staff, or as a colleague, someone who could aptly be nicknamed Eeyore?..You know the donkey character from A.A. Milne's, "Winnie the Pooh" story... the one that's always down?

In the story, no matter what the situation is, he always finds something to complain about.

Why should this matter?

Eeyore the Complainer

People like Eeyore can have a drastic effect on employee morale. Have you ever noticed that when you or your staff are around people who complain constantly, you start to feel negative as well?

Complainers are fearful people who have little faith in themselves or others. They believe the world is a hostile place. They believe that things are going to be bad and get worse because of the way things work.

They do not expect to be able to come up with solutions themselves for issues that come up - they would rather just complain about the problems and expect someone else to eventually come along and try to fix them. Meanwhile, they have the chance to complain and express negativity to anyone around who is forced to listen to them.

Resist Engaging With a Complainer

Most people feel compelled to either uplift this person's spirits or to avoid them. That's natural, because most people want to feel good and they want others to feel the same.

It is natural for people to want to try to argue with and convince complainers that things are better than they seem, or that they can work together to make things better. They believe that this will help alleviate the complaining.

Unfortunately, you can't argue a complainer out of his or her negativity. All you can do is respond with your own positive expectations... and leave, if possible.

People can be strongly affected by other people in their environment. If they are with other positive people who communicate positive thoughts, they will tend to have the same outlook.

However, if they are surrounded with negative individuals who complain about everything, they will likely eventually take on negative outlooks as well, in spite of their positive demeanor.

Boost Employee Morale to Negate Complaining

This is a major reason why it is so important to have strong employee morale programs in place at your company. It is virtually impossible for employees to avoid all of the complainers, but with employee morale boosters being given on a regular basis, the effects of the complaining can be negated.

That is because morale boosters are positive and energizing, and people cannot think negative thoughts and positive thoughts at the same time. Therefore, if you fill the workplace with positive thoughts and activities, there will be a lot less time for negativity and complaining.

That is why...
Employee morale boosters can be a very effective way to deal with the negativity of Eeyores in the workplace, and improve workplace communication.