Combating Negativity

Dear Jane,

I am an elementary school teacher. How do I deal with working with negative people who are more concerned with causing dissention among the staff than educating the students?

Negativity has such a strong force field that it is always a challenge not to take it on from others. As a consultant to organizations, I look at dissention among staff as a symptom of an underlying problem. If you have the authority to ask your administration to explore underlying issues, either directly with staff or with a consultant/facilitator, you may find some interesting answers that can help resolve the negativity.

When I consult, I begin with the following:

• When did the dissention begin?
• Is it generated from a particular person? (This doesn’t mean that there aren’t still underlying causes.)
• What do staff argue about? Are the arguments repetitive or can anything spark new dissention?
• What alternatives do staff have if they have a legitimate complaint or problem?
• What is the organizational norm for dealing with conflict?

Negativity is like an infection: It can only spread when the immune system of the organization is weak. So the goal is to strengthen the organization as a whole rather than just treat the symptoms.

In the meantime, do everything you can to stay clear of the fray. When you’re not at school, remember to focus your attention and energy on the positive. When you’re in the classroom, remind yourself that this is why you are a teacher. The best way to combat negativity is to enjoy life to the fullest whenever and wherever you can.

Jane Straus is a trusted life coach, dynamic keynote speaker, and the author of Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life. With humor and grace, Jane offers her clients and seminar participants insights and exercises to ensure that the next chapter of their lives is about thriving as the unique individuals they have always been and the extraordinary ones they are still becoming. She serves clients worldwide and invites you to visit her site, www.stopenduring.com. Here you will find excerpts from her book, more articles, TV and radio interviews, and clips from her presentations.

She is also the author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, www.grammarbook.com, an award-winning online resource and workbook with easy-to-understand rules, real-world examples, and fun quizzes.

Contact Jane at Jane@JaneStraus.com.