Chronic Complainers

[Bellisima]

How do you deal with someone who sees everything as a negative, not a thing is positive.  The glass is half empty.   The world is out to get me.  My life  sucks.  Negativity is contagious, but I am trying my damnest to counter act this toxic attitude!  It even trickles down to projects.  She sees what the issues are and what needs to be fixed, but many times misses the value. 

The world is what you make it so make it positive!  I told this person, the only person who can make her happy is herself.   Who has worked with someone who complains and what did you do?   

[peaches2160]

I am working with one now.  Granted, we have issues at work.  Some, serious ie: furloughs, etc.  However, we do still have jobs.  For that I am thankful.  I find her negativity is contageous, and over the past couple of days, which have been tough, her negativity has rubbed off on me.  I am trying to see the glass half full not half empty, but find the attitude is like kudzu.  I am not going around complaining, just frustrated.  When I am approached by the negative nellies, I try to normally be positive, or not say anything at all if my opinion is not positive.

[gee4]

It depends...sometimes I can listen and sympathise, other times I have to switch off.

If it's a subject I can relate to then of course I will help, however if someone is just moaning for the sake of it then I'm not interested.

I have had various people listen to me complain when it's been tough, so the least I can do is return the favour when it counts.

The next time the individual complains about something, why don't you hit them with a counter reply eg. if she hates getting up in the morning to come to work, just say...my mother/father/brother/sister has injured their back recently and they would just love to be able to get out of bed to go to work.  Carry on until he/she gets so bored by you outdoing their story they will get fed up complaining.

[msmarieh]

I usually call them out on their attitude sometimes by asking what they would do to improve the situation. This at least gets them started thinking of solutions.

[peaches2160]

I try that approach as well.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it just escalates the issue with my complainer.

[mlm668]

How do you deal with someone who sees everything as a negative, not a thing is positive.  The glass is half empty.   The world is out to get me.  My life  sucks.  Negativity is contagious, but I am trying my damnest to counter act this toxic attitude!  It even trickles down to projects.  She sees what the issues are and what needs to be fixed, but many times misses the value. 
The world is what you make it so make it positive!  I told this person, the only person who can make her happy is herself.   Who has worked with someone who complains and what did you do?   

What caught my attention is that she see issues and problems to be fixed in projects and you see this as a bad thing.  I'm the same way, I notice issues and try to prevent them before they come up but have been told I shouldn't be so negative.  I don't see it as a negative but rather proactive.  If a problem is prevented in the beginning, its something you don't have to waste time fixing at the end.  And I hate having my time wasted on rework. 

[Atlanta Z3]

Bump!

[gee4]

Sometimes hands are tied when problems arise due to office protocol.  We don't all have the right or the power to sort problems if they are work related.  Personal problems are a whole different ball game.