Customer Reviews

Managing Workplace Negativity

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Managing Workplace Negativity is a practical, no-nonsense guide for managers in all industries. The book provides case studies and clearcut strategies for managers coping with a variety of counterproductive behaviors in others. Topchik distinguishes among individuals who use defeatist behavior habitually, those who use it to score specific points, and those who reflect valid organizational morale issues. Hands-on approaches are presented to the complex, ambiguous issues of trust, change and organizational culture. I highly recommend this excellent resource for anyone seeking concrete answers to this difficult subject.

Just the book I've been waiting for! It helped me to clear the air and improve relations between colleagues in my own department. The results were so dramatic that the book is now making the rounds among department heads in my company. Mr. Topchik's strategies enabled me to confront longstanding negativity on the part of several subordinates - with outstanding results, including improved morale and productivity . It even enabled me to recognize some of my own counterproductive behavior. I found the book intelligent, well-written, practical and chockfull of tools to improve workplace attitudes. I highly recommend this book to virtually everyone in the workplace.

In my opinion, anyone with such a poor mastery of the English language has no business writing a book:

"She'll do anything you ask them to. But she will, in a self-deprecating way, complain about her workload, difficult employees, and customers or bosses. She often has an unpleasant personal lives and sublimates her unhappiness by trying to make work be the answer. What brings out her negativity is the feeling that their great efforts are going underappreciated."

To add insult to injury, the recommended way of dealing with the above character flaw is as follows:

"You must give this person constant positive feedback on how much you appreciate her contributions and hard work. She especially likes recognition in front of colleagues and teammates. If you really want them [sic] to remain positive, periodically send them email in which you praise their commitment (and be sure to cc the boss)."

Kinda like saying that the way to deal with a spoiled child is to give him/her everything he/she wants.

The one star is for the chuckles.

Useful guide to managing the sometimes posionous negativity that can infect an organization. Topchik breaks it down simply and clearly and the straightforwardness of the text keeps the reader focused on solutions. A useful book for any managet to keep on their desk.

Mr. Topchik has written an easy to read book on negativity. While I felt some of the information is overly simplistic, such as the "Cast of Negativists", there were other examples that were useful such as Chapter 4, "Dealing with Pervasive Individual & Team Negativity".

The trust and enablement matrix was also interesting, and the last chapters of the book are worth reading for managers and supervisors who need to be aware of issues around organizational negativity.

The book is worth reading for some of the less obvious nuggets offered up.

Gary Topchik discusses concrete issues and resolutions. There are no ambiguous situations. He makes you think for yourself and helps you develop your problem solving skills. He thinks "out of the box" and leads you to do the same. You begin to realize that some situations which you believed benign, are really negative. It is a definite must own!

This book has proven enormously helpful in impoving the environment for all of my employees in my organization. Mr. Topchik presents the information in a straight forward clear and logical manner. As a result all employees who have read the book have benefitied. In fact, I have made it required reading for the entire staff. I highly recommend the 30 strategies for temporarily reducing workplace negativity and how to confront constant continual negativity. Mr. Topchik also came up with the Cast of Negativist - 14 different types of negativists. This section is not only extremely helpful in recognizing our own negative behaviors, but also hysterical. I highly recommend this book!

This book helps everyone deal with the negativity that has become so common place in our workplaces. It makes you think about your own attitudes and teaches you how to deal with others. If management and workers alike would adopt these ideas work may not be a four letter word

If you have a morale issue in your workplace, chances are someone is spreading negativity around. One negative person can sour a whole team, so don't ignore it.
This book defines workplace negativity and investigates the causes for it. It tells you what symptoms to watch for and gives thirty quick fixes. It also advises how to overcome individual and team negativity. I was pleased to see the chapter on changing organizational norms, because the structure may set up repeat episodes of negativity with new staff.

This book clearly points out the various types of problem areas, including areas that I never thought of as being problematic. It also gives straight-forward, practical solutions. It deals with issues from the organization as a whole all the way down to the individual people. You can't help but to come away feeling empowered to deal your personal situation. I highly recommend this as one of the best books on the subject.