Ahh, spring—the season of fresh starts, blooming flowers, and pretending we’re actually going to clean out the lab. But while you’re busy purging study models from the '90's, don’t forget about the other clutter taking up space: workplace negativity. Yep, we’re talking about the energy vampires—the ones who sigh so loudly you can feel it in your soul, the professional procrastinators who make you question your faith in humanity, and the complainers who treat every minor inconvenience like a full-blown crisis. But don’t worry, tackling these bad vibes doesn’t require a major intervention. Just a little workplace spring cleaning and a fresh approach to keeping your energy (and sanity) intact. (and maybe some well-placed “bless your hearts”). Let’s get to it!
If you joined us for Roundtable Extravaganza 2023, you remember our special guest, Linda Swindling, author of Complainers and Energy Drainers. We had some great discussion about what’s clogging up your workplace vibe.
Your top 3 energy drains were:
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Other people’s bad attitudes (because nothing says “good morning” like a sigh so heavy it shifts the air pressure).
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Waiting for others to do their job (patience is a virtue, but this is ridiculous).
- Complaining (as the receiver, AND the complainer!)
The good news? Just like your junk drawer at home, you can clean this mess up with a little workplace spring cleaning. No broom required—just a fresh approach to handling negativity.
1. Stop Ignoring Negativity (It won’t take itself to the trash!)
Avoiding workplace negativity is like ignoring that 3-week old pizza in the breakroom fridge. It doesn’t go away—it just gets worse until someone finally deals with it (or quits).
✅ What to do: Instead of dodging ‘Negative Nellies,’ address the issue—gently. Try this, “You seem frustrated. What’s up?" Sometimes, just acknowledging negativity makes people realize they need to snap out of it.
✅ Decluttering tip: If someone insists on treating every workday like a tragedy despite your efforts, “I hear you - what’s your game plan?” Chronic complainers don't want your solutions. Listen, but not forever. Make it clear that you are not a drama dump by asking them what they are going to DO about their source of frustration.
2. Ditch the Habit of Criticizing Coworkers (Gossip is workplace clutter!)
We all know the pain of waiting on someone to do their part (We've been working on effective patient flow for months... why is Betty STILL not handing off to me?) But venting about it to your office BFF in sterilization doesn’t magically make Betty jump on board.
✅ What to do: Yes, it's cliché, but it's effective - Be the change you want to see. Lead by example, and if things still don’t improve, blame the system, not the person. If someone’s slacking is getting in the way of progress, have a direct-but-friendly conversation: “Hey Betty, I know we've all been working on our handoffs - how can we work together to be sure you're able to handoff to me after the interview?
✅ Decluttering tip: If all else fails, shift your focus to what you can control. Instead of stewing over other people’s inefficiencies by trying to control them, find ways to streamline YOUR workflow. But ultimately the question 'why' needs to be asked of the person who refuses to jump on board- at this point it's likely a leadership issue that should be communicated.
3. Complain Less, Solve More (Your mental space is precious—don’t clutter it!)
Venting can feel like cramming all of the clutter into the coat closet—momentarily satisfying. But if you never do anything about the clutter, it's all going to come tumbling down next time you open that closet. Complaining works the same way: the more you do it, the more you reinforce the negativity.
✅ What to do: Before launching into a rant, ask yourself: “Am I looking for a solution, or just venting?” If it’s the latter, it's time for a mindset shift. Go for a walk. Or focus on gratitude. If there’s a real problem, focus on how to fix it instead of just talking about it.
✅ Decluttering tip: If someone else is constantly dumping their negativity on you, don’t just absorb it—redirect them. “I hear you. So what’s the plan to fix it?” They’ll either start problem-solving or suddenly realize they need to address the issue with someone that can actually do something about it.
Spring Cleaning Challenge: Take Out the Trash (of Negativity!)
The next time negativity starts creeping in, treat it like that overstuffed closet—clean it out before it takes over. Stop feeding workplace energy drains, redirect complainers toward solutions, and most importantly, don’t let negativity take up space in your mental closet.
Because at the end of the day, a clean mindset is even more refreshing than a clean workspace. And with some intentionality—probably easier to maintain.