Believe it or not, research has shown that most people complain once every minute during a conversation. This constant negative reinforcement, which is often found in many workplaces, can have substantial effects on a person’s health. Not only this, but organisations can also be dramatically impacted by ‘workplace whining’.
For a leader or a manager, it can be very difficult to motivate people to do their jobs while they are too busy obsessing over tiny annoyances. Complaining in the workplace has the capability to put doubtful ideas in the heads of colleagues and create an atmosphere of pessimism. As well as this, complaining releases the stress hormone Cortisol, which leads to increased anxiety. For the purposes of practising good mental health and workplace habits, complaining should be minimised.
Of course, it is always advised that if there is a concern or problem in the workplace, that the appropriate authority should be informed. With statistics showing that 40% of workers believe that their job is incredibly stressful, workplaces should maintain a priority on employee wellbeing and a culture of support. Invaluable health and wellbeing programs could come in a variety of forms, including ‘mindfulness training’ and ‘emotional intelligence developmental training’. Happy employees ultimately lead to less stressed and more productive employees, and this also increases retention.
Instead of complaining about simple injustices… which are inevitable while at work, employers and employees can implement strategies which help to develop a positive working environment. Incorporating simple measurement tools such as writing down your concerns in a journal can help to relieve the tension which you may feel regarding an issue. Alternatively, have a laugh over something which was really annoying you. Joking assists in bonding with fellow colleagues and can be a great energy booster. The positive emotion that will come from this will also help to create open-mindedness, which will enable you to process potentially negative incidents in a healthy way. Further, implementing a health and wellbeing strategy, as mentioned before, will increase self and group awareness and promote positive group interactions. All of these tools can ultimately be used to help reduce the effects of negativity in the workplace.
If you are looking for improving your organisational culture, contact TMS Consulting at solutions@tmsconsulting.com.au for more information.
“Take the time in every day to see the good in the world” – Bailey Whitby
Sources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/281734
https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8362&context=gradschool_disstheses
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2018/05/15/how-and-how-not-to-complain-at-work/#4df6e4c27599