Why Complaining Creates Toxic Culture and Kills Leadership
It seems like more than ever before I hear people complaining and being negative about things. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that griping is a total waste of time. Sure it may make me feel good temporarily, but it is absolutely worthless as far as changing anything. All it does is keep me rehearsing the problem instead of finding a solution. I’m no better off than when I started.
If you and I are going to be good leaders we have to recognize when we are complaining and stop it. If we don’t it will spread. First to our management team, second to our employees, and then one day you’ll wake up and realize you have a very toxic work environment.
Alexander Kjerulf, of “The Chief Happiness Officer Blog” says that a workplace filled with griping and complaining leads to 10 things:
It makes things look worse than they are. — When you are negative and complaining all the time, your perspective changes. You begin to only see the bad, mistakes, and problems, while missing the opportunities and answers that could take your team to a new level.
It becomes a habit. — The more you complain, the more you train yourself to think that way. Then, it becomes very hard to change.
You attract what you focus on. It’s a proven fact — we move in the direction of our dominant thoughts.
It kills creativity. — Because griping really makes the situation look hopeless, your team will take on the attitude of “What’s the use?”
It makes your team hopeless. — What you talk about gets bigger and as the negative gets huge in your environment, your team will stop believing things can change.
It promotes wrong relationships. — When new people come on your team, they will feel the way to fit in is to complain just like everyone else.
It favors negative people. — The way to rise in a group of complainers is - to be the biggest complainer!
It creates division. — When you are positive, hopeful, and secure you are more open to new relationships, but when you’re negative you’re the exact opposite.
It leads to what Alexander calls “one down mans ship.” — Instead of employees trying to outdo each other with stories of success and positivity, they try to darken the mood even more. “My pain is worse than your pain,” or “my sob story is even more terrible than that.”
Griping is unhealthy. — Did you know that doctors have proven people who are positive live longer, have more friends, are healthier, are more successful, and are happier?
Prayer, on the other hand, brings the power of God into our circumstances. It creates an environment where things will really change. It “makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working),” according to James 5:16 (Amplified). In fact, the Greek word “power” here is the same we get the word “dynamite” from. I’d much rather set off some spiritual “dynamite” to work in my situation, than just continuing to rehearse the problem, wouldn’t you?
Here are some reflection Questions for you:
How much time do I spend praying about the situations I’m facing versus how much time I spend griping about them?
How much time do I spend daily praying for the people I lead versus how much time do I spend griping about them?
Recommended Book:
The Heart of a Leader by Ken Blanchard