Everyone complains at work every now and then. It’s normal, and it can even be cathartic to work out a little stress.
But everyone has also worked with someone who is a chronic complainer: the person who seemingly finds fault with everything their coworkers and managers say or do. Complaining can become a bad habit or a fallback way of communication among groups of people with common grievances and bog down the group.
Steve Farber, founder of the Extreme Leadership Institute, suggests these three tips to make a “complaint cleanse” in a recent Inc. guest column:
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- Analyze the complaints and address their root issues.
- Remember what the good stuff is and encourage it in others. Try keeping a gratitude journal.
- Stop giving your problems all the power. Rather than holding onto imperfections, try to actively think about something affirmative or positive.
