You were excited about the new year. A fresh start, new goals, more vacation days (hey, I don’t blame you), and a chance to leave all of the workplace chaos of 2011 behind. You arrived to work in January only to discover that the same complaining, gossiping and bickering hadn’t changed. Not another year of this!
How do you stay motivated when you have to work with unmotivated people? Follow these three simple tips to bring peace and sanity to your work day.
You are a flashlight
What’s the purpose of a flashlight? To shine light on the areas that are dark. Despite all of the negative conversations, make a decision to be the person who injects positivity into your organization. Yes, there will be some people who will undoubtedly make sarcastic comments about your positive attitude, but you have to decide if you are going to make a difference in your company or join the attitude of everyone else.
Become a bottle of seasoning
While attending a conference in Georgia, I was persuaded to have lunch at a restaurant that served Jamaican food. I ordered a very simple dish but I distinctly remember that everything, including the bread, was spicy (even my beverage was spicy). What does this teach us about the workplace? It only takes a small amount of change to make a massive impact. Be the person in 2012 to resolve the senseless conflicts between employees in your office. Now, you could simply adopt the mindset that their issues don’t involve me. The problem is that their conflict will undoubtedly affect the entire team.
You are not a mixer
If you’ve ever made homemade bread, you know that the dough must go through some form of a mixing process. How does this relate to you? You are not mixer! Don’t blend with the attitudes, conversations, rumors (or anything else negative) that spreads around the organization. It’s better to be the “oddball” focusing on what’s positive than having a bad attitude and being stressed as a result of assimilating with the group.
Following these simple tips will help you maintain your sanity around unmotivated co-workers. Which tip will you implement this week? Leave your answer on our Facebook page.
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