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Help! I Work With Negative People

by Cade Kennedy Leave a Comment

Help! I Work With Negative People
negative people quotes

There is cancer in the workplace.

Negative people.

Frighteningly, they have a masterful way of polluting corporate waters before you even figure out that they are wet with rage.

Since there’s not much companies can do once these malignant characters infiltrate the company, it is up to you, the employee, to fend for yourself and administer your own vaccine against the obscene.

First, let’s look at a few ways to quickly identify negative people at work. These are generalizations, but I have often found them to be spot-on:

Lack of Accountability: It’s never THEM, it’s always the employer or the circumstance.
Constant Validation: Tell me I’m right. Help me be a victim.
Audible Clues: These folks often sigh aloud, as if the strife is so great, they can’t contain it.
They Lurk the Halls: Misery loves company, and common areas are the perfect breeding ground to spread negativity.

OK, OK. We get it. Identifying these negative coworkers isn’t the hard part. But keeping them in check, and protecting yourself from their shitty influence is the real challenge. Here are a few ways to defend yourself from additional stress and insanity.

Don’t gossip. Ever. 

Remember, if someone is willing to talk about someone behind their back, they will likely be willing to do the same to you. Gossip has no place at work. Do your best not to engage and cut people off who partake. Sure, you want to keep your ear to the ground to understand what’s happening with the company, but worrying about non-business related things is nothing but a waste of time for everyone. When coworkers start to spread the juice or throw shade, simply tell them to stop.

Give up coffee and cigarettes.

I may be way off base on this but in my experience complainers drink a lot of coffee, smoke a lot of cigarettes, visit the bathroom a lot, and just find ways to take a lot of breaks. Because breaks mean an audience to complain to. I’m not suggesting you max out your bladder. What I am recommending is that you learn these people’s routines and adapt accordingly. It’s a small sacrifice that can pay dividends.

Take the bull by the horns.

Negative people can rarely be saved (at work), and why they are so sour is not your concern. Since you control your own destiny, make it a habit to tell negative people that you choose not to engage. Your decision to tune out negative dialogue has nothing to do with who is wrong or who is right; it is not an indictment of their predicament or personality. It is, however, a commitment to yourself to keep yourself focused and (relatively) happy. The follow-up to this is to be sure you enforce your own rule consistently. We all know the negative person will be looking for any excuse to take your decision personally.

Negative People Quotes

“If you cannot be positive, then at least, be quiet.” – Joel Osteen

“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” – George Benard Shaw

“Once you learn how to be happy, you won’t tolerate being around people who make you feel anything less.” – Unknown

“Let go of the people who dull your shine, poison your spirit, and bring you drama. Cancel your subscription to their issues.” – Dr. Steve Maraboli

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” – Dalai Lama

“Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings and emotions.” – Will Smith

“Not my circus. Not my monkeys.” – Polish Proverb

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” – Peace Pilgrim

“To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. When you speak out, you are in your power. So change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.” – Eckhart Tolle

“Watch out for the joy-stealers: gossip, criticism, complaining, faultfinding, and a negative, judgmental attitude.” -Joyce Meyer

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Filed Under: Career Advice Tagged With: negative people, negative people quotes

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