How Would You Respond?
Example #1
You are relaxing in the breakroom, when one of your co-workers comes in and complains loudly, I’m sick of coming in here and always finding it a filthy mess. What’s wrong with the people around here? They are such slobs. The must think their mothers or spouses are going to come in and clean up after them! Doesn’t it bother you.?
Tolerate or Accept (How can you handle this negativity?)
Avoid (How can you get away from the negativity?)
Change (How can you change the negativity or the situation?)
Exercise #2
You walk into the copy room to find one of your co-workers banging on the copy machine and yelling, “Why doesn’t this machine ever work when I have an important job to do?! I’m no repairman. How am I supposed to know what to do when the machine is out of toner? I’m fed up with this place!”
Tolerate or Accept (How can you handle this negativity?)
Avoid (How can you get away from the negativity?)
Change (How can you change the negativity or the situation?)
Exercise #3
Your supervisor frequently complains to you about one of the employers in your department. Right now he is sitting in your office telling you more than you want to know about the employee’s shortcomings.
Tolerate or Accept (How can you handle this negativity?)
Avoid (How can you get away from the negativity?)
Change (How can you change the negativity or the situation?)
Exercise #4
Someone on your work team has been coming late to meetings and not getting her assignments completed on time. Her behavior is beginning to affect your ability to get your own work done. When you bring up your concern, she starts whining about how much she has to do and complaining that she has more work than anyone else on the team.
Tolerate or Accept (How can you handle this negativity?)
Avoid (How can you get away from the negativity?)
Change (How can you change the negativity or the situation?)
Exercise #5
The receptionist at your company always seems to be in a bad mood. When you come in the work and say “Good morning,” he replies, “What’s good about it? Why don’t you take your cherry attitude and….”
Tolerate or Accept (How can you handle this negativity?)
Avoid (How can you get away from the negativity?)
Change (How can you change the negativity or the situation?)
Exercise #6
Your co-worker is frustrated about a change in her schedule. You need to get some information from her to complete an assignment. When you make your request, she snaps at you, saying “I’ve already explained that to you. Why are you bothering me again?
Tolerate or Accept (How can you handle this negativity?)
Avoid (How can you get away from the negativity?)
Change (How can you change the negativity or the situation?)
