As a new supervisor, it is important that you remember to maintain a positive workplace and keep an upbeat attitude. Attitude is contagious. A positive person can alter the vibe of the entire room. Negative attitudes can do the same. Negativity can spread and even create a toxic workplace.
If you find yourself coming into contact with negative attitudes, take these 6 steps to help maintain a positive attitude.
- Avoid them (if possible)Distance yourself, when you can. You can still cooperate and collaborate with people, but you don’t have to eat lunch with a complaining coworking. However, as a new frontline supervisor, it can be challenging when you are managing negative people. You can’t avoid them. Not only that but you need to address the problem with them before it infects other members of your team. Remember, as a new leader, you could be taking over a team of people who have been through challenges and have reasons to be negative.
- Acknowledge (without agreeing)
You can listen to your employees to understand their perspectives and listen to their stories. Show empathy, but do not feel the need to join in and compare stories or make their issues your own. Instead, look for the positive angle in their story, and share your perspective. Help them to come up with their own silver linings. Try to move the conversation in an overall positive manner. This will keep your attitude positive and encourage them to stop whining. - Remember to separate behavior from the person
Behavior can change. Just because a person’s behavior is negative doesn’t mean they are a bad person or a bad employee. You can focus on improving behavior. - Model the best attitude
While negative attitudes are contagious, your positive attitude is, too. What are you doing to help their attitude? Have you offered coaching? They might not even know that their attitude is affecting others. It’s important to put your most positive self forward when you interact with them and be supportive. Do you smile at them? Or do you take on their persona and attitude whenever you’re together? Make sure that you are modeling the best attitude, and then coach them to help them make changes. - Be positive
Try to create thoughts that are resilient against negative attitudes. The more positive thoughts you have in your mind, there will be less room for negative thoughts:Â Read something inspiring. Watch uplifting movies. Spend time with positive people. Practice looking for the good in situations. Make a gratitude journal. - Let it go
This is perhaps the most important action to take. If the employee is affecting the team and the person won’t change after coaching, you might need to let him or her go. If the person is negative by nature (but a great employee), you will need to let it go. Remember, you can’t change people. At this point, you will just have to rise above the whining and ignore it.
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