employee morale Archives

October 26, 2021 By Joyce Weiss

Surprisingly Easy Ways to Deal with Chronic Complainers | Part 2

Hello Dear Blog Readers!

Welcome to Part 2 of this blog series: Surprisingly Easy Ways to Deal with Chronic Complainers.

We covered 2 stories about chronic complainers in Part 1. They included 2 people who complained about packing for a trip and cleaning their house after construction workers left a mess.
Additionally, I also shared tips on how to deal with these chronic complainers.

Read Part 1 to discover or recap the stories and tips.

This week you will find more ideas on how to deal with these chronic complainers. There are several studies that show employees leave jobs because of these toxic workers. Additionally, they are tired of listening to their whining.

I coach others on how to stop this wasted productivity. Listening to chronic complainers takes up too much time.

Strategy #1 On How to Deal with Chronic Complainers

These toxic people complain about work, relationships, family, the long commute, the rainy weather, age, and drum rolls – politics!
We feel drained after we listen and listen.
They have legitimate complaints at times.
The problem is that most of their toxic words can become contagious and look out for morale going south.
It’s ok to validate their comment at first.
Say something like, “I can see why you are so upset.”
This works with others who are not chronic complainers. Additionally, all they want to do is have someone hear about their complaint.

Validation can make things worse with chronic complainers. And you can fall into the trap and the whining can go on

Strategy # 2 On How to Deal with Chronic Complainers

Ask them if they would like to hear your thoughts about the complaint.
You may be lucky and create a case scenario that shows the complainer another option.
Additionally, this may fuel the fire.
Handle this strategy carefully.
Don’t sound judgmental or critical.
I know that you know this! I just need to give you a friendly reminder so YOU don’t get pulled into the complainer’s drama.

Strategy # 3 On How to Deal with Chronic Complainers

Set a personal boundary on how long you will listen to the chronic complainer.
Exit gracefully.
Let them know that you have a meeting in 5 minutes.
Hopefully, they will get the hint.

Here are 2 questions for you:

What is the complaint that you hear at work that you are sick and tired of hearing?
How does your family drive you crazy with their chronic whining?

Please comment in the comment section.

You can send me a private email with personal issues that you want to explore.

Read Part 1 to discover or recap the stories and tips.

Let’s Stay Connected

Please share your thoughts about this week’s post. How does it resonate with you?
You can share your ideas in the comment section or send me a private email HERE.

Until Next Time,

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Conflict Resolution and Communication Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Please share this post on your social media. As a result, other growth-minded people can reduce their high drama and inner stress. We made it easy for you. You have the shareable social media links on the left. Easy Peasy!

P.P.S. I’m the Human Resource Professional’s Partner. I coach employees and managers to feel comfortable using their voice without losing their cool – so they feel heard and respected.

P.P.P.S Are you {or your direct reports} ready to explore working with me as your private coach? It’s easy and fits anyone’s budget and schedule.
Call me at 248.681.5831 or send an email: Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com.

Schedule your complimentary 20 – minute discovery call

March 23, 2021 By Joyce Weiss

5 More Action Steps (11-15) to Reduce Stress and Drama!

Hello, Dear Kick Conflict to the Curb Readers!

Are you ready for 5 more action steps to Kick Conflict to the Curb?

I hope that you’re using the strategies that you have been learning from these posts and videos and reducing your stress and drama at work and home!
If you have questions or need more details on any of the content, please reach out and send me an email: HERE.

This article is Part 3 in the series: 20 Action Steps to Kick Conflict to the Curb.
Here’s a link from Part 1 where you’ll find the first 5 strategies

Here’s a link from Part 2 where you’ll find action steps 6-10

The action steps come from creating content for my virtual class and coaching clients. If you want more information on any of the action steps, do a search in the search bar on this site: JoyceWeiss.com.

Here are action steps 11-15 and look for the rest next week. 🙂

Action Steps #11:
Invite everyone to write down their ideas on how they would change things if their name was on the building

This is a powerful exercise to do with the entire team.

I make sure that people send in their ideas anonymously to make sure that the answers are honest and bold.

I asked the CEO to leave the room during training so we could create an open dialogue with the entire team. The CEO and I met after the session and had a direct and tough conversation. It’s amazing how many clients want me to do this exercise after I give them options for the training.

We have some great leaders! Now let’s get the weak ones and educate them on how to be an even better leader.

What is your answer? What changes would YOU make if your name was on the building? Please comment below or send me a private email.

Action Steps #12:
Learn something new today. Constant learning is a key to business success

How is your field changing and how can you stay ahead of your competition?

Many of my clients share how much they’ve learned during the pandemic. They’ve attended master classes more so than ever in their career.

Your Master Coach has created an entirely new virtual class {Kick Conflict to the Curb} and coaching packages. I’ve enrolled in at least 10 virtual training courses to learn how to set up a virtual office, create powerful videos, connect with people in an engaging style and so much more. My brain is thanking me and is happy.

Action Steps #13:
Ask yourself how you are Adding Value to the Company and Why should the company keep you?

This is a question that I ask almost all coaching clients. We need to toot our own horn or no one else will notice us. There is a fine line between bragging and speaking up so others hear our ideas.
This action step is perfect when you ask for a promotion. Share your ideas on how you’ve saved the company money or time.

At times people don’t realize how valuable we are to the organization because leaders have so much to do. This is your time to educate them on why they need to keep you.

Action Steps #14:
Clarify the boundaries that you need to set for yourself to achieve a better work/life balance

What boundaries do you need to set with your colleagues or direct reports?

open-door policy?
availability for phone calls or zoom meetings?
handling small talk about the weekend when you have deadlines?
figuring out how to run away from negative colleagues

Once you know your boundaries share them with others and make sure to ask them about their boundaries. We all have needs that must be met. If not, resentment seeps into the conversations.

I belonged to numerous masterminds and loved each one. As my business started getting busier, I couldn’t continue growing my business and spending time with all the mastermind groups.
It was a hard decision to drop out of them because each group consisted of like-minded colleagues who LOVED constant learning and growth.

Action Steps #15:
Make a list of what can be done to reduce employee burnout

This is such an important action step because employees will come up with some great ideas that match their needs.
Listen to all ideas. Discuss how they could or couldn’t work. Massage these ideas to fit with the organization’s culture.
Ask and listen. You will see an immediate improvement in morale.
People want to be heard! Have you heard me say this at least in every article? I sure hope so. 🙂

Let’s Stay Connected

Which Action Steps speak to you? What does your organization do to reduce drama and stress at work?

Those of you who share either in the comment section below or send me an email HERE will receive a new video (that I have not posted yet) about using props to engage your virtual meetings. It’s short and contains tips to liven up your virtual meetings.

Continue being engaged as a Kick Conflict to the Curb Weekly Update member and start sharing your thoughts about the videos or articles.
Hey, Dear Readers, I’m here for you when you have questions about your own communication or relationship “challenges.”

Feel free to send me an email. Full disclosure here:
I don’t charge anything when people send me questions or comments via email. Staying connected is what it’s all about for me.

Have a Great Week!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Master Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Career Advancement is like riding a bike: Shift Gears from coasting to owning the road!

P.P.S. Here’s the link for Part 1 in the series with the first 5 action steps.

P.P.P.S Here’s a link from Part 2 where you’ll find action steps 6-10

July 21, 2020 By Joyce Weiss

DANGER: Do Not Fear Conflict in the Workplace!

Did I get your attention? I sure hope so.

Conflict in the workplace is a good thing. Ignoring conflict is going to produce an unhealthy workforce.

Many of you already know that I’m the Queen of Conflict Resolution.

I decided years ago to take on this challenge when I discovered how many leaders did not like conflict and did what they could to push it away or ignore it. Fast forward 30+ years later and clients appreciate learning how to have tough and necessary conversations

Fear of Conflict in the Workplace Strategy #1:
It’s Hard to Trust Without Conflict

Disagreement is a sign of strength.
Healthy companies realize that false agreement is not a good thing.
Group Think is something that I talk about with leaders who are conflict-averse.
Agreeing with management just to agree does not foster trust.
It closes necessary disagreement.

Fear of Conflict in the Workplace Strategy #2:
Be Brave and Take Risks

It may be hard for you to visualize how challenging it was for me to share my opinion when I was younger. I know my family wishes I was still that person. I’m not! It’s been a process. I understand how hard it is for some of us to tell our truth without fear of rejection.

It takes much strength to take this risk.
People may roll their eyes or disagree in a loud voice. I say, “so what!”
It took me several years of reading books on bold conversations and going to workshops on this subject for it to sink in my head how being silent was not giving me the respect that I needed.

I understand how hard this is for people because I had to overcome being an agreeable person. Now, you can’t stop me from speaking my truth and have built quite a coaching and training practice helping clients find their voice with Joyce!

Stay Connected with Me

Add a comment to my blog on how you deal with conflict in the workplace. What stories or expressions help you? What do you do to prevent “group think” from happening?

You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂 You are always welcome to send me a private email
with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

Please contact me at my cell 248.310.6998 or 800.713.1926 to explore how career coaching could be a great action step for your career development. There are many options to fit your budget and time schedule! My last 4 clients have asked me to help them feel more comfortable with their online presence – to help them create engaging virtual programs. It only takes a few sessions to make this happen. Hey, what can I say? I’m quick and clients use their new engagement skills immediately. A win/win for all. 🙂

Isn’t amazing how much drama occurs in the workplace? It’s like they have their own reality TV show! If you can relate, it’s costing you BIG time! I specialize in coaching clients to kick conflict and chaos to the curb to get the respect and peace they deserve!

Find your voice with Joyce!

I would love to work with you!

Until next time,

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Conflict Resolution Queen

Have a great week.

July 2, 2019 By Joyce Weiss

Accountability Strategies to Build a Winning Team! Part one

Do you want to learn accountability strategies to use immediately?
Are you tired of your team blaming others, making excuses or playing the denial game?
Would you like to experience a team that honors ownership, accountability, and responsibility?

If so, you are in the right place! By the time clients contact me to create a training or coaching session, they have tried everything to move their team from acting like high school students to a force of success – with no avail!
The five accountability strategies below will get you started. There will be more strategies in the next few blog posts.

Accountability Strategy #1: Know your Culture

It’s time to change a negative culture now! Share these next blogs with your team to see where your gaps are to change a blaming environment where people point fingers to a culture of team problem-solving.

Accountability Strategy #2: Understanding the Old Definition of Accountability

Ask your team for its own definition of accountability. This is a great step to know the action steps your team needs to take to move forward.

Accountability Strategy #3: A Better Definition of Accountability

Teams need to know the importance of collective and personal accountability. We are in this together will help build trust and improve morale.

Accountability Strategy #4: Encourage a Positive Mindset

Accountability strategy #4 is very important! A positive mindset is mandatory to make a permanent change. Hold team members accountable when they blame or play the victim.

Accountability Strategy #5: Get Rid of the Victim and Blame Game

The sign of a strong team is how it deals with stress and challenges. Celebrate when desired results are achieved.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how you measure accountability at work. Which accountability strategy speaks to you?

You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂 You are always welcome to send me a private email with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

Check out my NEW Testimonial Page on JoyceWeiss.com at the link below:
You may know some of my clients! 😉
Here’s the link

Until next time,

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Career Coach and Corporate Communication Strategist

Have a great week.

Remember, YOU Get What YOU Tolerate!

June 26, 2018 By Joyce Weiss

How to Improve Meetings and Increase Morale

Do you want to improve meetings and increase morale?
Have you seen creativity disappear the moment someone says something negative?

Whatever you do … don’t squelch creativity. This article will help you reduce conflict in the workplace and improve meetings by NOT using certain words.

Improve Meetings by Avoiding these words:

Yes, but….
We tried that before
We haven’t got the manpower
Don’t rock the boat
Great idea, but not for us
It’s not in the budget
Silence….

Improve Meetings by using positive phrases

When someone says one of the killer phrases you can always put a spin on the statement by saying,

“If we could try that idea what do you think will happen?”
“If we did have enough people, how would that make a difference?”
“If we did have money in the budget, what is the first thing that you would do with it to increase morale?”

You will be amazed at how fast conflict in the workplace is lessened when the team starts paying attention to these killer phrases. You will improve meetings and hear more laughter at work!

Improve Meetings by Adding Fun

My clients create ground rules to make sure that the team knows that they will be held accountable if they say the killer phrases. The team needs to be consistent and hold everyone responsible if the negative words are mentioned.

Of course…the idea is to add some fun in the workplace while you improve meetings and increase morale.
We don’t want to add more stress to your environment, so do your best to add a positive spin to this activity! 🙂

You can have the guilty party place $1.00 in a pot which can be used to give to the team’s favorite charity, pizza or ice cream. Please send me ideas on how you have stopped these negative phrases to reduce conflict in your workplace.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how you deal with negativity to improve meetings. You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂 You are always welcome to send me a private email with concerns that you are experiencing at work. Send me an email here or share your ideas in the comment section.

Please share this and any article that speaks to you or your company

Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts. Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

PS Learn how I can leverage my 30+ years of leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization address conflict resolution in the workplace here.

Surprisingly Easy Ways to Deal with Chronic Complainers | Part 2

Strategy #1 On How to Deal with Chronic Complainers

Strategy # 2 On How to Deal with Chronic Complainers