Sustainable Excellence Xtras # 95 - How Whiners and Complainers Can Make You A Better Boss

How often have you brought a gripe or problem to your boss just to get it off your plate and let them know there is an issue?

How do you handle those situations when you are the boss and are trying to juggle several projects at the same time and you don't have time to listen to someone's complaint? 

While it would be more productive when people complained about something that they also proposed a solution regarding how to fix the issue, we know it is human nature to want to criticize things that bother us. 

Here are five ways to handle office whiners from an article in BizPhilly Business (Shelley -  5/8/15):

1. Confront Them Head On - Explain to people who constantly complain that their grumbling is bringing you down.

2. Weed Them Out - During job interviews, ask potential hires to discuss past workplace incidents where there were disagreements and how they handled the situation.

3. Get Positive - Let them know you hear what they are saying and then ask them if they have a solution to the issue.

4. Empower Them - Many times people complain because they don't feel like they have a seat at the table. When someone is objecting to something, empower them with the responsibility to fix the problem.

5. Ignore Them - When a colleague starts to complain, don't engage with them. Your silence may get them to be quiet for a while.

From the perspective of a supervisor, it builds rapport and trust to listen to a subordinate when they are moaning about something. In addition, you might learn something and it gives you an opportunity to show the person a different side of the situation they may not have considered.

​Please leave me a comment about how you handle colleagues who complain at work and check out the video below for more ideas about how to handle whiney employees.