How to Work With Co-Workers That Have a Negative Attitude

Negative co-workers can make you want to quit your job. Instead of letting them get to you, there is a way to work with co-workers that have negative attitudes. One way is to combat them with your own positive attitude. Another way to work with them is to stay away from them or to try to steer conversations to more positive topics. By constantly introducing positive topics, you may be able to drown out the negative.

• 1

  Analyse the negativity to see if you should pay attention to it. According to Women's Media, think about "3 P's" when assessing someone's negativity: Is it personal? Is it permanent? Does it matter in the big picture? A co-worker's negativity might have nothing to do with you, and chances are the situation won't last forever. Keeping things in perspective should make it easier to ignore negativity at work.

• 2

  Look for opportunities to turn negative conversations into positive ones. If your co-workers like to regularly whine about a particular situation, for example, you could try to highlight the positives, if there are any. If there aren't, try to change the subject to a more positive one.

• 3

  Limit your interaction with negative people at work. For example, you don't have to socialise with them at lunchtime or go out with colleagues after work.

• 4

  Remove yourself from the negative situation at work as much as possible with extra curricular activities such as volunteering; concentrating on helping others can improve your mood.