When a business lacks time to achieve its big picture goals, I often suggest that people stop complaining at work. This comment is often met with surprise, as the senior leaders agree but wonder how I could know this, having little knowledge of their business.
The truth is that I’m making an educated guess about their organization. More often than not, I’m right. Complaining at work takes up a lot of time and rarely produces improvements.
Keep in mind that I think it’s good for people to raise concerns and look to solve problems. But chronic complaining is different. It’s a mood that can infect a work culture, just as how a leaky faucet affects your water bill.
Does your business have a complaining at work problem? Consider if you fit into these situations:
Stop Complaining at Work About the Same Problems
In the 1990s, I had a friend who complained about traffic. He’d talk about how he hates traffic and people he considers bad drivers.
Flash forward 20 years. We haven’t talked during that time but reconnect through social media. I look at his timeline and I see multiple posts about traffic and bad drivers. My friend spent two decades complaining about the same thing and it’s something he can’t control.
Sometimes you will face challenges you can’t improve. You have to make a choice about whether you’ll allow it continue to put you in a bad mood or if you’ll put more energy into something else.
For instance, if my friend has to face traffic, maybe he can create a positive ritual, like listening to music he enjoys, as a way to tolerate the negative situation behind the wheel. Otherwise, he’s wasting energy, empowering the impact of something he can’t control.
Are You a Complaining at Work Catalyst?
A catalyst increases a chemical reaction and people can become catalysts for complaining. This happens when you support someone complaining or add to a complaint session. You’re creating a negative work culture.
It’s understandable that sometimes you will be frustrated by situations and it can be healthy to vent about them. Sometimes, focused complaining can lead to positive changes.
But has complaining become your go-to move when faced with a challenge or any negative situation?
It’s more productive to focus on the positive things you can control and not take the bait on discussions about what’s wrong or gossip about colleagues in a negative way.
Consider whether your comments add value and if you’d be embarrassed if certain people heard them.
Stop The Never-Ending Argument
Every month, two department heads spend at least 30 minutes arguing about how a performance statistic is calculated in a report. The person who issues the report favors a more conservative interpretation. The other believes it’s shortsighted and undercuts the division’s performance.
While both have valid arguments, in the end, the final decision rests with the person who issues the report. After the case has been made for the more liberal interpretation, then the issue should be settled. It should not be rehashed every month.
Final Thought
You have a finite amount of time to get things done at work. Do you want out of control complaining to limit your potential?
