Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers: How to Negotiate Work Drama to Get More Done

Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers: How to Negotiate Work Drama to Get More Done

by JD Linda Byars Swindling
Released February 2013
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781118492963

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Book description

Turn constant complainers into productive contributors

Constant complainers take up resources, time, and mental bandwidth in the workplace. When you change a culture of complainers to one of contributors, you boost morale, increase productivity, and promote effective communication. In short, you get more done with less drama. In Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers, workplace communication expert Linda Swindling shares her expertise in negotiating tough situations in the workplace. Discover how to influence others to accomplish your purpose. Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers uses scenarios, engaging questions, and survey results to provide strategies that can be implemented immediately.

  • Shows how to identify complainers and time drainers

  • Provides forms to help prepare for discussions, suggested language to show up powerfully, and encouragement to apply strategies

  • Offers concrete phrases and tactics to refocus a complainer and end unproductive conversations

Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers is research-driven and focused on how to identify as well as manage conversations with "venters," complainers, whiners, and energy drainers. With these guidelines for communication, you'll see powerful results, improved relationships, and increased confidence.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Work Drama 101
  7. Introduction: How to Use This Book with No Complaints
  8. Chapter 1: Whiners
    1. Spot a Whiner
    2. Stop a Whiner
    3. How to Stop a Whiner Boss
    4. How to Stop a Whiner Peer
    5. How to Stop a Whiner Employee
    6. Turn to Management to Help Stop Whiners
    7. Turn Management Around
  9. Chapter 2: Complicators
    1. Spot a Complicator
    2. Stop a Complicator
    3. How to Stop a Complicator Boss
    4. How to Stop a Complicator Peer
    5. How to Stop a Complicator Employee
    6. Turn to Management to Help Stop Complicators
    7. Turn Management Around
  10. Chapter 3: Prima Donnas
    1. Spot a Prima Donna
    2. Stop a Prima Donna
    3. How to Stop a Prima Donna Boss
    4. How to Stop a Prima Donna Peer
    5. How to Stop a Prima Donna Employee
    6. Turn to Management to Help Stop Prima Donnas
    7. Turn Management Around
  11. Chapter 4: Controllers
    1. Spot a Controller
    2. Stop a Controller
    3. How to Stop a Controller Boss
    4. How to Stop a Controller Peer
    5. How to Stop a Controller Employee
    6. Turn to Management to Help Stop Controllers
    7. Turn Management Around
  12. Chapter 5: Toxics
    1. Spot a Toxic
    2. Stop a Toxic
    3. How to Stop a Toxic Boss
    4. How to Stop a Toxic Peer
    5. How to Stop a Toxic Employee
    6. Turn to Management to Help Stop Toxics
    7. Turn Management Around
  13. Chapter 6: What to Do If You’re the Complainer
    1. Spot Yourself Complaining
    2. Which Complaining Behaviors Am I Using?
    3. Spot Yourself Complaining
    4. Stop Your Complaining
    5. How to Stop Complaining Like a Whiner
    6. How to Stop Complaining Like a Complicator
    7. How to Stop Complaining Like a Prima Donna
    8. How to Stop Complaining Like a Controller
    9. How to Stop Complaining Like a Toxic
    10. Why Are You Complaining?
    11. Good Business Reasons to Curtail Your Complaining
    12. Good News and Breakthroughs
  14. Chapter 7: Energy Drains
    1. Spot the Energy Drains
    2. Stop the Energy Drains
    3. How to Negotiate Energy Drains Involving Technology
    4. How to Negotiate Energy Drains Involving Bottlenecks
    5. How to Negotiate Energy Drains of Too Much Work and Too Little Time
    6. How to Negotiate Energy Drains Involving Misaligned Values
    7. How to Negotiate Energy Drains Involving Depressing Environments
  15. Chapter 8: How to Negotiate Work Drama
    1. Spot Work Drama
    2. Are You Negotiating Work Drama?
    3. Stop Work Drama
    4. Decide to Negotiate
    5. Find the Right Supporters
    6. Turn to Human Resources for Help
    7. Turn the Problem Around Yourself
    8. When Management Doesn’t Help
    9. How to Negotiate Detours and Roadblocks
  16. Chapter 9: Go Ahead, Complain
    1. Spot Complaints
    2. Employee Complaints Are Good
    3. Encourage Employees to Give Valid Complaints and Solutions
    4. Stop Complainers at Work by Listening to Them
    5. Complaining Is Good for Business
    6. A Client’s Destructive Feedback
    7. Complaining Is Good for You
    8. Making a Valid Complaint
    9. Crossing the Finish Line
  17. Resources
  18. References
  19. Acknowledgments
  20. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers: How to Negotiate Work Drama to Get More Done
  • Author(s): JD Linda Byars Swindling
  • Release date: February 2013
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781118492963