Dissatisfied employees and workplace mood

Since most jobs are somehow tied to a team, department, or collaboration between departments at the company level, or even internationally, we must expect to work with various people, different personalities, and even different cultures.

Of course, among the many people we work with every day, there will be those who are not exactly examples of positive thinking. We all know them. One or more individuals who more or less openly spread negative energy. Some gossip about colleagues behind their backs, flatter superiors, whisper in corners, gather for coffee, and try to attract as many people as possible into their “clique.” Others complain about the amount of work and think that all the tasks have once again fallen on them. Yet others condemn every new challenge from the start, claiming that the task is “impossible.” Some are simply dissatisfied with themselves and the world and project this negativity onto others. And there are many more examples. So, how do we deal with such colleagues, and how can we avoid their destructive influence?

First, we need to realize that we choose our friends, but we don’t choose our colleagues. People are different, so we must learn to collaborate with all types of personalities. Even if we don’t particularly like someone in the team, we need to control our feelings to the extent that we can work with them correctly and without problems. None of us expects to socialize with them in our free time, but at the workplace, we must do our tasks professionally, regardless of any (negative) feelings we may have towards a person. So, the subjective part should simply be set aside, and we should focus on the work tasks. Above all, we should try to avoid gossip and games. The priority is well-done work tasks, so we should direct our time and energy towards completing them.

We can also contribute to improving relationships at work. We are all responsible for the good climate in the company. Employees are the ones who co-create a more or less favorable and motivating work environment. Ensuring well-being and good relationships at the workplace is the task of each individual. It starts with the most basic etiquette; it costs us nothing to greet colleagues with a smile and positive energy in the morning, and this attitude greatly influences the overall atmosphere. A positive attitude toward work is key to generating new ideas, increasing productivity, and consequently achieving good work results. Example-setting is important; with our attitude toward work, we can further motivate colleagues and encourage them to tackle tasks with a positive attitude as well. On the other hand, negativity, even in small amounts, can trigger a snowball effect and turn into an avalanche, pulling everyone involved into a vortex of bad mood and, as a result, poor work results.

Employers certainly have a great influence on the atmosphere in the company and can contribute to a positive attitude toward work and the team by setting a good example.

From an employer’s perspective, one of the key factors influencing employee motivation, interpersonal relationships, and consequently a better atmosphere in the company is employee empowerment. Empowerment is the process of providing employees with knowledge, information, and skills that allow them to make autonomous decisions and take responsibility for them. Employees’ feeling of being more independent at work, having more decision-making authority, and consequently more responsibility, generally has a positive effect on their attitude toward work and contributes to greater efficiency, as people feel more involved in the processes of the company and see their work as an important contribution to the company’s success. In this way, dissatisfaction is reduced, and the positive attitude toward work and colleagues is increased.

People are different, and in every team, there will always be someone who doesn’t fit in well and will, in one way or another, influence the atmosphere in the workplace. So, what should we do? The best recipe is a positive attitude, a focus on achieving results, and plenty of good will that will help us on our way to the goal.

Author: Tjaša Snoj, Project Manager for Recruitment and Selection, Adecco