The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work

Chapter 25. Hope Shares the No Complaining Rule

Before she began her presentation, she looked at Jim and said, "Now, Jim, as I give my presentation I don't want to hear any complaining. The No Complaining Rule is in effect." Everyone had a good laugh, and Hope continued with an inspirational introduction. She discussed the cost of negativity and why it was essential to build a positive culture. She shared her theory that energy vampires and jerks had to be dealt with in an organization but that a far more dangerous form of negativity was the subtle kind that included complaining, which grew like a cancer. She reiterated the themes she shared on Friday and explained why they were essential to prevent and deal with negativity. Then she shared the No Complaining Rule.

Note

Employees are not allowed to mindlessly complain to their coworkers. If they have a problem or complaint about their job, their company, their customer, or anything else, they are encouraged to bring the issue to their manager or someone who is in a position to address the complaint. However, the employees must share one or two possible solutions to their complaint as well.

Hope reasoned that an employee should never complain to someone who is not able to help with a solution. Mindless complaining serves no purpose and only sabotages morale and performance. Mindless complaining cultivates negativity and adversely affects ...