Complainers in the Office: 3 Ways to Deal With Them. Do you hate it when people complain?
It turns out there's a good reason: Listening to too much complaining is bad for your brain in multiple ways, according to Trevor Blake, a serial entrepreneur and author of Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life. In the book, he describes how neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long gripe session. "The brain works more like a muscle than we thought," Blake says. "So if you're pinned in a corner for too long listening to someone being negative, you're more likely to behave that way as well. " Even worse, being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. But if you're running a company, don't you need to hear about anything that may have gone wrong? So, how do you defend yourself and your brain from all the negativity? 1. "My father was a chain smoker," Blake confides. You should look at complaining the same way, he says. 2. 3.
7 Things Highly Productive People Do. 5 Phrases That Can Boost Employee Morale. I left the company years ago for another but I still run into former colleagues.
Usually the ensuing conversation involves something along the lines of, “Hey, did you hear about the (latest management decision I think is really stupid) at the plant?” This question was different. “You worked there for almost 20 years,” my ex-coworker said. “Is there anything you wish you could go back and do over? " I thought about it later. Instead I most regret the things I didn't say: To employees who reported to me, to some of my peers, and to at least one person I worked for. It's too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. “That was great how you...” Feel free to go back in time. “Can you help me...?”
Even though I could tell he really wanted to participate, I never let him. Asking someone for help implicitly recognizes their skills and value. And there’s a bonus: You get help. “I'm sorry I didn't...” Say you're sorry. Say you're sorry, say why you're sorry, and take all the blame. Be on time, every time: 6 simple tricks. Nobody likes to be late.
It's stressful and can trash your rep as a responsible, competent leader or employee. But for some of us, tardiness is a tough habit to break. I spoke to Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management from the Inside Out about how to make being prompt your new way of life.