I hate U2: Negativity in the Workplace

It was 2000 and I was in my second year of university. I lived on a floor with 20 other guys in a residence hall, 7 of which I would go on to live with off campus and am still very close with today. However, one of my close friends drove us all nuts. 

Religiously, he would leave for a full day of classes at 8am, lock his bedroom door, but leave his stereo on full blast with U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind" album on... ON REPEAT. 

I hate U2.... I know, I know... but I can't help it. And can you blame me? Every time this song comes on I cringe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19KstSgU-c0

In no time at all I despised U2 and the negative energy that we put towards our friend caused some serious friction in our friend group. He did it as a joke, but it wasn't received that way..... at all!!

How does this have anything to do with your workplace? How do you avoid that "negative Nellie" in your office? You know the one. That one person who can always find the negative to every business decision, every colleague promotion, every computer upgrade. 

Avoid the darkness! Negativity is a darkness that can suck us in with the first glimpse of a chance. Don't look it in the eye. Don't engage! 

Ever feel drained when you talk for more than 5 minutes with Negative Nellie? Being negative is not a person’s natural state and it takes a lot more energy to fuel. Negativity will attract others and drain them of all their energy to fuel their fire. It a vicious cycle.

This momentum can quickly spread across a workplace, so identify the negativity and steer your ship clear of that energy. 

So here are 4 tips to avoiding that negativity in your workplace.

1. Don't point the finger.

You've heard the saying: If you point a finger there are three fingers pointing back at you. Instead of pointing a finger of blame, analyze the situation and decide what you could have done differently to avoid the situation. You'll likely find there is always something you could have done to avoid being sucked into the negative cycle. Take this experience as a learning opportunity.

2. Own up!

Do something about the problem. Is a colleague in the office/ cube next to you constantly interrupting you? Not getting the raise you think you deserve? Don't start the cycle of negativity by complaining to colleagues at the water cooler. If it bothers you enough, take action. Talk to your supervisor about your concerns. [Pro-tip: if you're going to talk about a raise that you feel you deserve, bring examples of why you feel you deserve a raise: metrics or KPI's met/ exceeded for example. "I deserve a raise" isn't a good enough case.]

By rule of thumb, if you tell someone about a problem more than once, you are likely complaining, doing it daily will make it a chronic behavior. This becomes very poisonous to you and your coworkers. 

3. Fight the good fight

Fight negative energy with positive energy. If you see an elderly citizen or a mother struggling with a door at a grocery store, head on over and hold it open for them. Help your office manager carry the food order up the stairs. The little things add up and really make you feel good about yourself and your actions. That positive energy can be carried into your workplace easily!

4. Be a leader 

Make positive energy part of the mission, values and vision of your company. Hire people who light up a room and strive to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Work with clients and vendors who care about their work as much as you do. Help others in need and shout out your victories from the mountaintop!

What methods have you used to eliminate negativity from your workplace? I'd love to hear your experiences and tips!

PS. I still hate U2...