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

Chapter 31. No Complaining Rule Action Plan

Step 1: Explain the Cost of Negativity and Complaining

Gather your team or organization in person or on the phone and explain the cost of personal and organizational negativity. Use the research and statistics (found on pages 28 and 29) and clearly identify the problem and the effect it has on productivity, performance, and success.

Step 2: Share and Explain the No Complaining Rule

People are not allowed to mindlessly complain to their coworkers and/or team members. If they have a problem or complaint about their job, their organization, their customers, 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 employee or team member must also have thought of one or two possible solutions to the complaint and share that as well.

Exercise

• Discuss the rationale behind the No Complaining Rule.

• Ask people to identify and explain the benefits this rule would likely generate.

Step 3: Justified Complaining versus Mindless Complaining

Discuss the difference between mindless complaining and justified complaining (explained on page 49, the third No Complaining Tool). Explain that mindless complaining focuses on problems whereas justified complaining focuses on solutions.

Exercise

• Discuss the benefits to an organization or team that is solution focused instead of problem ...