Comments on: Wednesday: Whining Employees http://theexperiencefactor.com/wednesday-whining-employees/602/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wednesday-whining-employees Creating extraordinary experiences one person at a time Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jen Kuhn http://theexperiencefactor.com/wednesday-whining-employees/602/#comment-270 Jen Kuhn Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:02:00 +0000 http://theexperiencefactor.com/?p=602#comment-270 <p>Excellent points! "Wize Time"...I love how your friend was able to switch the focus of the whiner, and win them over by getting them to focus on solutions. And not just any solution, their own solution. This is an approach that would definitely gain buy-in.  I would caution one in using this approach if it is a change that must be implemented by the company or department. If there is no flexibility, then giving the whiner the illusion that they can alter it in some way may create further issues. However, keeping with your style, one might consider asking the whiner: "Despite the fact that you don't like this change, what can you do to ensure it works for the department?"  Thank you for taking the time to share additional ways to approach the chronic complainer.  I'm confident that people will read your comment and find many situations where it will be effective.</p> <p>Jennifer...insightful connection to therapy and parenting skills.  Effective coaching behaviors often mirror effective therapy and parenting behaviors.  Both therapy and parenting take a thoughtful, skilled approach (if one wants to assist in the health and well-being of their patient or child).  Coaching requires the same attention if one wants to assist their employees in reaching their fullest potential. I appreciate your insights; I'm sure your comment will resonate with any reader who is also a parent!</p> <p>Cheers, Jen</p> Excellent points! “Wize Time”…I love how your friend was able to switch the focus of the whiner, and win them over by getting them to focus on solutions. And not just any solution, their own solution. This is an approach that would definitely gain buy-in.  I would caution one in using this approach if it is a change that must be implemented by the company or department. If there is no flexibility, then giving the whiner the illusion that they can alter it in some way may create further issues. However, keeping with your style, one might consider asking the whiner: “Despite the fact that you don’t like this change, what can you do to ensure it works for the department?”  Thank you for taking the time to share additional ways to approach the chronic complainer.  I’m confident that people will read your comment and find many situations where it will be effective.

Jennifer…insightful connection to therapy and parenting skills.  Effective coaching behaviors often mirror effective therapy and parenting behaviors.  Both therapy and parenting take a thoughtful, skilled approach (if one wants to assist in the health and well-being of their patient or child).  Coaching requires the same attention if one wants to assist their employees in reaching their fullest potential. I appreciate your insights; I’m sure your comment will resonate with any reader who is also a parent!

Cheers, Jen

]]> By: jennifer berman http://theexperiencefactor.com/wednesday-whining-employees/602/#comment-268 jennifer berman Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:30:02 +0000 http://theexperiencefactor.com/?p=602#comment-268 I like these suggestions about complainers. In fact, I think Jen's ideas translate into the practice of good communication skills in general that we practice in both therapy and parenting....Lots of good applications here. As someone who has done her share of complaining (I think that some people like to narrate their experiences...look at Twitter and Facebook), I do know that complaining wants reinforcement. Not reinforcing it and deflecting it as Jen suggests can be powerful...difficult for the complainer, but powerful. I like these suggestions about complainers. In fact, I think Jen’s ideas translate into the practice of good communication skills in general that we practice in both therapy and parenting….Lots of good applications here. As someone who has done her share of complaining (I think that some people like to narrate their experiences…look at Twitter and Facebook), I do know that complaining wants reinforcement. Not reinforcing it and deflecting it as Jen suggests can be powerful…difficult for the complainer, but powerful.

]]> By: Wize Time http://theexperiencefactor.com/wednesday-whining-employees/602/#comment-267 Wize Time Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:42:32 +0000 http://theexperiencefactor.com/?p=602#comment-267 A friend of mine who has worked in some incredible places such as international airports - that's quite a place to work - solved the problem of whining employees this way - he asked them what they would do instead.  He would listen and ask questions such as "why do you feel that would work"; "how would you implement that" and other questions based on what he knew about the rest of the team.  Sometimes, he'd even put the whiner in the position of taking on the project and coming up with better solutions into which the rest of the team would buy in.  Whiners soon became problem solvers instead of problem creators!  A friend of mine who has worked in some incredible places such as international airports – that’s quite a place to work – solved the problem of whining employees this way – he asked them what they would do instead.  He would listen and ask questions such as “why do you feel that would work”; “how would you implement that” and other questions based on what he knew about the rest of the team.  Sometimes, he’d even put the whiner in the position of taking on the project and coming up with better solutions into which the rest of the team would buy in.  Whiners soon became problem solvers instead of problem creators! 

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