Dealing with negative attitudes in public safety

Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. And today’s tip is for everyone! Today I want to talk about your attitude.

Our attitudes are a big part of who we are and how we interact with those around us. Positive hopeful and constructive attitudes move us forward. On the other hand, negativity can stifle growth and poison relationships. Negativity breeds negativity.

But just because you have a positive attitude, it doesn’t mean everything is going to be perfect. Bad things can and will happen. A negative attitude is more likely to yield bad results and a positive attitude supports good results. It’s easier to destroy something than it is to build it. Please treat people the way you like to be treated.

Let’s talk about a coworker you know who’s just having a terrible day. Maybe he or she got up on the wrong side of the bed and everything and everybody is just plain wrong today. How does that negativity affect those around that person? How does it impact you? It’s so easy to take that negative energy and add to it.

Here’s a suggestion: don’t play into it. Recognize the negativity and stop it in its tracks. First, start off by trying to understand how they feel. Show some empathy. Be a good listener. Second, find some common ground. You don’t have to agree with everything being said, but if you can acknowledge what they’re feeling. Third, identify something positive and reinforce it. This doesn’t mean trying to force them to be positive, it means giving attention to something constructive – redirecting the prevailing attitude.

You know the glass half full versus half-empty? People with negative attitudes at work can adversely affect those around them. Negativity can spread like wildfire. It can cripple an organization. It’s better to stop it as soon as it starts rather than play into it. And that is Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham, signing off.

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