The Hidden Danger of Negative Framing: A Lesson from Najib, the Control Engineer

Summary: Negative framing—focusing on what’s wrong, incomplete, or missing—can unintentionally create stress, reduce motivation, and limit problem-solving in a team environment. By making small adjustments to the way we communicate, such as emphasizing progress, offering solutions, and using positive language, we can create a more balanced and productive dialogue. Remember, the way we frame a situation can shape the outcome. So, next time you have to deliver bad news, consider framing it in a way that empowers your team to act rather than get stuck in the problem.

Meet Najib: Never Sure He's Being Interpreted Right

“The way we see the problem is the problem.” – Stephen Covey

Najib is a talented control engineer with a sharp mind and a knack for solving complex problems. His technical expertise is unquestionable, and his insights often help his team navigate tricky projects. But there's one issue that keeps cropping up: his tendency to use negative framing when communicating with his bosses and colleagues. And, unknowingly, it’s creating more problems than it solves.

One day, during a routine project update, Najib tells his manager: “We haven’t made any significant progress on the automation design yet, and the software still needs a lot of debugging. So, I’m not sure if we’ll meet the deadline.”

At first glance, it’s just an honest update, right? Najib is simply reporting the facts. However, if you dig deeper, you'll see how this framing creates a different impact than he intended. He’s emphasizing what hasn’t been done, which can make the situation sound more dire than it really is. While it’s true that there are issues, the negative way of presenting them might lead his manager to think that things are far worse than they are.

This is a classic case of negative framing—the tendency to emphasize what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what hasn't been achieved, rather than focusing on the progress made or potential solutions. In Najib’s case, while his report is accurate, the focus on the negative aspects could unintentionally create a sense of urgency or even panic in his colleagues, rather than motivating them to find a way forward.

What Is Negative Framing?

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

Negative framing is the way we communicate challenges, setbacks, or problems by focusing on the negative aspects rather than offering solutions or emphasizing progress. It often involves using language that highlights what's wrong, what's missing, or what's failing.

For example:

• "We haven't finished the task yet."
• "The system is still full of bugs."
• "I'm not sure we can fix this in time."

While these statements may be truthful, the negative framing can create unnecessary stress and a sense of hopelessness, especially when these words are heard by bosses or team members who are looking for solutions. Instead, you could frame the same situations more constructively:

• "We’ve made progress, and we still need to finalize a few tasks."
• "The system has some bugs, but we're working on resolving them."
• "We’re on track to make improvements, but may need more time to finalize everything."

The Downsides of Negative Framing

“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

1. Creates Unnecessary Stress: By focusing on what hasn’t been done, negative framing can make situations seem worse than they are. This can cause undue stress or anxiety, especially in high-pressure environments where everyone is working towards tight deadlines.
2. Reduces Motivation: If the message always focuses on what’s missing or what’s gone wrong, it can demotivate your team. Constantly hearing about setbacks without seeing any mention of progress can lead to feelings of frustration and helplessness.
3. Limits Problem-Solving: Negative framing often doesn't leave much room for solutions. It can feel like the conversation is stuck in a loop of complaints, rather than transitioning into actionable steps to improve the situation.
4. Misunderstanding of Progress: When you frame everything in negative terms, it’s easy for others to get the impression that things aren’t progressing at all, even if progress is being made in some areas. It’s not always about being overly optimistic, but rather giving a more balanced view of the situation.

How to Avoid Negative Framing

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

Fortunately, there are ways to counteract negative framing and communicate more effectively:

1. Focus on What’s Been Accomplished: Even if things aren’t perfect, highlight what has been done. For example, “We’ve completed the initial setup and are now refining the system,” sounds more positive than, “We’re nowhere near finished.”
2. Offer Solutions or Next Steps: When discussing a problem, focus on how to resolve it. This shifts the conversation from “Here’s what’s wrong” to “Here’s what we’re doing about it.”
3. Use Positive Language: Even when talking about setbacks, try to frame them in a way that highlights opportunity. For example, instead of saying, “This is a big issue,” try, “This is a challenge we can work through.”
4. Provide a Balanced View: Don’t ignore the challenges, but balance them with some recognition of progress. For instance, “There are a few bugs left to fix, but we’ve resolved most of the critical ones, and we’re ahead of schedule.”
5. Avoid Absolute Terms: Words like “never” or “can’t” can sound more final than they really are. Instead, use more flexible language, such as “We haven’t completed it yet, but we are close.”

In the end, how we frame our communication can have a powerful impact on the way we and others perceive challenges and setbacks. By focusing on progress, solutions, and collaboration, we not only foster a more positive environment, but we also create momentum that moves everyone closer to success. The next time you’re faced with a problem, take a moment to consider how you’re framing it. A slight shift in perspective—from a negative focus to a more constructive one—can make all the difference in how your message is received and, ultimately, how effectively the issue is resolved. As we’ve seen, a positive approach isn't about ignoring the obstacles, but about empowering those around you to overcome them together.

Reader's Question: Do you ever feel like you are just being honest when you point out everything that’s going wrong in a project but hear from others that you may be coming off as too negative?

Suggested Hashtags for Sharing: #NegativeFraming #PositiveCommunication #WorkplaceTips #Leadership #ConstructiveFeedback #TeamMotivation #CareerAdvice

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Marc LeVine is a Syracuse (NY) University graduate with a degree in Industrial Psychology; Marc is currently a Talent Acquisitions Manager at Thermo Systems. He received the Excellence in Talent Acquisitions Award from HR Awards in 2021.

Marc's prior employment includes senior Human Resources and Staffing Industry management roles with Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, NJ; Brickforce Staffing in Edison, NJ; InfoPro Inc. in Woodbridge, NJ and Plainsboro, NJ; and Harvard Industries in Farmingdale, NJ; a former Fortune 500 company. He also served as Director of Human Resources for New Jersey Press, the parent company of the Asbury Park Press, Home News and Tribune, and WKXW-NJ101.5. Earlier in his career, Marc served as Director of Career Services and Placement at Union Technical Institute in Eatontown and Neptune, NJ. In addition, Marc owned and operated Integrity Consulting Associates, a New Jersey-based Human Resources and Social Media Marketing firm, for 11 years. Marc also served as Council President in his Freehold Borough, NJ hometown.

Marc's prior employment includes senior Human Resources and Staffing Industry management roles with Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, NJ; Brickforce Staffing in Edison, NJ; InfoPro Inc. in Woodbridge, NJ and Plainsboro, NJ; and Harvard Industries in Farmingdale, NJ; a former Fortune 500 company. He also served as Director of Human Resources for New Jersey Press, the parent company of the Asbury Park Press, Home News and Tribune, and WKXW-NJ101.5. Earlier in his career, Marc served as Director of Career Services and Placement at Union Technical Institute in Eatontown and Neptune, NJ. In addition, Marc owned and operated Integrity Consulting Associates, a New Jersey-based Human Resources and Social Media Marketing firm, for 11 years. Marc also served as Council President in his Freehold Borough, NJ hometown.

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