Who among us doesn’t engage in a little complaining about our jobs around the proverbial water cooler? A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled Misery Poker got me thinking about the act of complaining about our jobs to others and the fact that when times are tough, the act of complaining can actually be a little therapeutic.
It is a painful fact that the economy is not great. Those of us still working are either stressed that soon we may not be, or because the scope of our job has changed dramatically. “Downsizing,” or “rightsizing,” or whatever term you want to use to describe fewer people doing more work, has caused many of us to experience stress at an all new level. I have friends who are currently doing jobs originally done by a staff of three people 15 years ago! Sure, the advancement of technology has enabled a certain portion of the work consolidation over the past 20 years; but for the most part, in the private sector, we are just flat out working longer and harder than we did in the past. Let’s see… still getting paid the wages of one person, but doing the work of three. What’s there to complain about?
While things like downsizing can be a necessary act of survival in business, so can a little old fashioned whining about the boss. I have several friends who also manage companies. They have spoken to me about their concerns over company morale due to some of the inner-office complaining they have heard about. Keeping morale high in your organization is always critical; but during tough times, letting people blow off a little complaint steam can actually be good for morale. Just don’t let it go too far… people still need to get their work done.
Understanding that a little therapeutic job complaining is okay, but too much can become counter-productive, here are some ways for bosses to keep things at an acceptable level:
1) Over Communicate- In these tough times, if you don’t go to great lengths to explain your actions as a manager, people will interpret them on their own. One thing is for sure; no matter how bad something is, they will imagine something even worse if you don’t clearly communicate your actions and your plan.
2) Have Regular “State of the Business” Meetings- Give people a chance to ask questions about the company, the economy, and the financial health of your organization.
3) Be Honest- There is nothing worse than lying to your people under any circumstances; but it is especially true when times are tough. People deserve to know the truth and they are more likely to support any required change if you are forthright about it.
4) Set a Positive Example- Your team will take their cues from you, their leader. Try to stay positive and upbeat in the office and don’t let things drag you down. If you stay positive, it is much more likely your employees will too.
5) Keep Your Office Door Open- Your employees always start imagining terrible things when the boss has his door shut. Make a real effort to keep yours open unless you absolutely need privacy for a specific reason.
6) Don’t Overreact - There is a lot more tension in our lives these days. Understand that complaining is a healthy and necessary means of relieving tension in the workplace. If you keep a healthy perspective on the whining and maintain focus on your goals and opportunities, your team will follow suit.
Chuck Terry is the Executive Vice President and CSO of Carew International and is regular contributor to Carew’s blog – Executive Insights
Carew International is a leader in sales training and leadership development; specializing in comprehensive, proven training programs for sales, sales management and customer service excellence. For over 30 years, Carew has earned its reputation of delivering increased productivity and profitability to our valued clients world wide.
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