Category Archives: Negativity

Leadership in Action Series: Part 9

Speaking Up About Put-Downs By Daniel Robin This article series outlines several tools for dealing with patterns of aggressiveness.  Assertive leaders are clear about what they want, listen actively, make requests, set clean boundaries, and handle differences through skillful negotiation.  Of course, depending on the “personality” involved, it might be best to ask for help or get out of their Continue Reading ...

Giving Workplace Negativity a Sustainable Lift: Part 3

Ending the Blame & Shame Game -- part 3 of 3 By Daniel Robin "You did it again! How many times have I told you that it is not okay to socialize with your workers … you’re in charge here, and being seen as ‘Mr. nice guy’ undermines your authority." The boss has spoken. "I don’t ‘socialize’ with them … we just talk, Bob explains. "Plus, you and I go to lunch sometimes … why Continue Reading ...

Giving Workplace Negativity a Sustainable Lift: Part 2

Gripe to Grip --  part 2 of 3 By Daniel Robin Most of the workplaces I’ve known are in a state of perpetual chaos and disrepair … they are immense and never-ending exercises in surfacing dramatic problems and (in some cases) actually solving them. By contrast, highly bureaucratic or rigid organizations simply do not allow problems (denial anyone?). However, allowing personal attacks, emotional Continue Reading ...

Giving Workplace Negativity a Sustainable Lift: Part 1

Containment -- part 1 of 3 By Daniel Robin "You can forget about that project … it will fail like all the rest." "Yeah, our morale has been down so long, even bottom is starting to look like up!" A colleague just got told to "get off it" by his boss. What’s the "it", exactly? He doesn’t really know, oddly enough, because the problem has been undiscussable and undefined from the start. Something Continue Reading ...