Venting Vs. Negativity

October 28, 2019 @ 1:38 pm by ACT

We all go through challenging times in the workplace. Whether it is a difficult change, challenges with team dynamics, or a time of high stress, these challenging times can take a toll on our resiliency. One of the best ways to stay resilient during these times is to stay in venting mode and avoid negativity.

Negativity is a poison in the workplace. It works in insidious ways to undermine productivity, confidence, and results. It gets in the way of anything good. Top performers have a zero tolerance policy for negativity. The second a top performer senses negativity on their team, they work to change that negativity into venting. The purpose of negativity is twofold: recycle the pain and recruit as many people to your side as possible.

Venting is a powerful tool to release toxicity in the workplace. The purpose of venting is to release the pain you are experiencing and move forward. When we vent, we work to move on from the thing that frustrates us and move toward productivity. By venting, we empower ourselves to become more focused, more productive, and more present in the workplace.

Using these two definitions we can clearly identify when we are stuck in negativity and when we are simply moving through venting. What are some things around which you may have fallen into negativity? How can you move that towards venting now that you know the difference?