Do you have a ‘Negative Nancy’ on your team?

Unfortunately, most work places may have a ‘Negative Nancy’. If you’re the co-worker – you wonder why the boss puts up with it. If you’re the boss, you may choose to avoid her negative comments, because she’s good technically. The question is – what impact does a negative Nancy have on your team? Do you have a Negative Nancy…or it could be ‘Depressing Dan’?

Negative Nancy checklist:

1. When you’re leading a meeting – you look over ‘Nancy’ when you’re looking for buy-in and support.
2. When you add a new person to the team – you don’t have ‘Nancy’ mentor them.
3. You start to wonder if any good finds ‘Nancy’; most staff don’t stop and ask how her day is going.
4. Your key team members have asked you if you’ve noticed the impact Nancy has on the team?
5. Your team pulls together, has a can do attitude…except Nancy.

Avoiding the issue only sets a low standard for everyone. How would a leader you admire deal with it? The first point is to deal with it. The second is to set the expectation. Be clear; being technically the best …just isn’t good enough. www.lighthouse-leadership.com