What’s good about negativity at work?

2 Responses to “What’s good about negativity at work?”

1. Tim Wallace P.Log says:

   January 9, 2009 at 6:23 pm

   Your right negativity can spur change but more often then not it spreads more negativity. The idea is to come up with creative solutions to overcome the negative thoughts. It is especially important in todays economic environment to turn the switch off on the negative news. Just like a TV we need to change the channel. Sure negativity can spur change but the problem being if a solution isnt found it breeds an attitude where everything becomes negative. Have you looked at a paper recently as an example where 9 out of 10 stories are negative how does this give us solutions it doesnt all it does is depress creativity and encourage hopelessness. I know what you are trying to say when you say it comes from negativity but actually it doesnt it comes from failure. Failure is what breeds success. Just ask Abraham Lincoln and look at his failures list and guess what he overcame to become president of the US. This I think more accurately reflects what you are trying to get accross
2. carla says:

   January 24, 2009 at 8:41 pm

   Hi Tim – Thanks for making that distinction. I guess its more accurate to say “negative events” often seed creativity, as in “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” But as you say, negative mindsets breeds more negativity. So, to enter a negative situation with the thought “How might this be a gift or the seed of something good to come”, would help diffuse the negativity about it.