Leadership First: Stop negativity before it spreads

Dear Mark: Do you have any suggestions for changing a chronically negative staff member? -Anonymous

Dear Anonymous: First, I would say, you can't change a chronic negativist; they must do that for themselves. Now, presuming that this staff member is a subordinate, I recommend the following tips:

No. 1. Meet with the staff member and engage in dialogue. Find out what's going on in their life, why they are being so negative, frustrated or irritated. Are they being negative toward others or is it toward the institution? Try asking pointed questions that will help you get to the root cause.

No. 2. Let them know that you will not allow negativity to persist on the team. Explain how negativity affects others and how it can impact work quality or customer satisfaction, et cetera. Some studies estimate that negativity costs American corporations more than $30 billion a year in lost productivity. The toll on morale, efficiency and productivity is equally critical. No. 3. Work out an improvement plan with your associate and engage them in developing steps/actions they'll take to improve. Set a deadline for progress, and follow up regularly to discuss it.

No. 4. Be certain that the associate understands the gravity of this situation, and that they must make noticeable changes or face the consequences you spell out.

No. 5. Above all, don't make the mistake of failing to take prompt, decisive action because you hope that your employee will make a miraculous change on his own. Chronic negativists, in my experience, only get worse over time and attempt to drag down other employees into their little "pity party." This can have a drastic influence on the work climate and can accelerate turnover among your better employees.

But remember, if matters don't improve, it's not due to your failure but their own.

Dear Mark: Is there a way to personally combat chronic negativity when it's going on around you? -M.T.

Dear M.T.: It seems that negativity today creeps into every facet of life, from news headlines that reek of it to the proverbial office-cooler chat often saturated with pessimism. Unconstructive thoughts often dominate our thinking and our discussions, so what can we do to ward off this ilk from impacting our own attitude?

No. 1. For every negative stimulus, focus your mind on two positives. This dispersion tactic replaces negativity with more productive thoughts and soon your perspective will return to a healthier balance. Be prepared to do this as often during the day as you need.

No. 2. Don't be a receptive listener to chronic negativity. This won't make you a popular member of the office-cooler gang, but it will protect your attitude. Either walk away when it persists or go to people privately and let them know how it affects you.

No. 3. When negativity surfaces, attempt to turn it into a solution by asking: "So how do we solve this?" or "Do you have any ideas on what can be done to make it better?" In my experience, this either shuts them down altogether, or it can help them to see a more constructive view of problems and that griping about things all the time only makes matters worse.

No. 4. Be careful about who you hang around. I realize we can't always choose, but as much as possible limit your exposure to people who focus on the negatives and tend to drag you down with them. You can either send subtle messages or opt to have a frank discussion with the individual, especially if it's a friend, family member or a co-worker you will have frequent contact with. Explain honestly and with empathy how their negativity affects you, and ask them to limit exposing you to it in the future. Or take the subtle route by abruptly changing the topic every time they launch into negative diatribe of more than a few sentences.

No. 5. Read every good book you can find on having a more positive, healthy outlook. In my view, one can't go wrong with any book written by Norman Vincent Peale or Zig Ziglar. The key is to have a regular dose of helpful guidance that enables you to stay the course of contentment and joy. Personally, the Old Testament book of Proverbs is my favorite read for a more balanced, healthy attitude.

Springfield-based consultant Mark Holmes speaks nationally on increasing employee and customer retention and improving employee performance. He is the author of "Wooing Customers Back" and "The People Keeper," and his ideas have been featured in the Wall Street Journal and on Fox Business Network. He can be reached at mholmes@thepeoplekeeper.com.