What is it about complaining that is so enticing and traps some people more than others?

We all work with colleagues who complain, and there are some who keep at it no matter what.

And what can you do to keep it from impacting your own morale?

People complain at work for many reasons.

They might feel theyve been wronged or even betrayed by the institution or their boss.

These emotions are strong, and many people dont handle them well.

So, what to do?

Let that chronic complainer hi-jack your meetings and squash your ideas?

Nofirst, seek to understand them first.

Then, figure out how to interact with them on your terms.

Heres how to set boundaries with a constant complainer at work.

Interject and say, Before you go further, what do you want out of this conversation?

Do you need me to help you problem solve, or just listen?

Dont worry about being perceived as unprofessional for interrupting.

Your response is warranted because it sets expectations for the conversation by identifying its purpose.

It may feel normal to them, a habit that emerged without them realizing it.

An interruption helps them hit pause, consider the purpose of their actions, and maybe become more self-aware.

The first step toward changing behavior is gaining an awareness of it.

Interrupting the pattern may help a persistent complainer do that.

Some teams I work with have a weekly 10-15 minute meeting just for complaining.

They get it all out during a set time and then get back to work.

Time limits help too.

How long are you willing to listen?

Maybe its 5 minutes, maybe its 15 minutes.

A former colleague kept an egg timer in her office.

If someone came to complain to her, she set it for 10 minutes and told them to continue.

They had to keep talking while the timer ticked along.

In her words, My strategy worked!

Another way to put structure to complaining is by coupling it with something positive.

One team Ive worked with called it Complaints and Kudos.

They intentionally set aside time to complain, but during the same time, they also shared their successes.

But there are (hopefully) also a lot of good things happening too.

Complaining at and about work isnt inherently bad.

Sometimes it can serve a purpose, helping teams to build camaraderie.

If you work with a persistent complainer, consider that.

Maybe they are seeking a sense of belonging.

But if the complaining is impacting you, you must take control of the situation.

Your own productivity and effectiveness may depend on it.