Team Alpha 375

The Grump Factor

By: Laurie Brown

You are sitting at your desk and reading your email when you open the latest missive from your boss. Once again, the bonehead has come up with another new direction for your company. You clear your throat and ask the person next to you, "Have you seen what the idiot has sent us now?" In the cafeteria you sit with your co-workers grousing about how stupid this company is. But this doesn't just happen today--you find yourself at odds with the management everyday. And while you have always been a "good soldier" and done exactly what was asked of you, you can't help but let your feelings be known.

Or perhaps you are the more silent type: sighing, rolling your eyes, and simply showing through your body language that you are greatly put upon or dissatisfied.

Whatever your style of grumpy may be, you might assume that if you are really good at your job and do everything that is asked of you, you will remain, in the eyes of your employer, a valuable member of the team.

You may also think that customers don't care if you are grumpy.

Not so. Employers, co-workers, and customers notice and react to your attitude. They all take into consideration what I call "the grump factor". Simply put, the grump factor is a measure of how difficult it is for others to deal with you. Just how grumpy are you? How difficult are you?

When a Fortune 500 company had to make a 20% cut in their workforce, the management had to choose which people were going to be laid off. Nearly every employee was regarded as a hard worker. And in fact, many were known to be the best at what they did. After the layoffs were announced, each laid-off employee tried to figure out why THEY were chosen. Why was it that many less-competent employees were left standing while they were let go? Was it because they earned more money? Was there a personal vendetta against them? Was it due to sexism or ageism? Many of these people failed to see their own role in why they were the ones to go. In a follow up discussion, management indicated that they looked at attitude to guide their layoff decisions. Employees that had a bad attitude -- a high "grump factor" -- were considered expendable.

Obviously when it comes time to downsize, many factors are considered, but employers want to work with people who are easy to deal with -- employees who love what they do and show others that they love it too. I'm not talking about a phony, saccharine-sweet attitude -- I mean a sincere, joyful, work attitude.

When asked by young people, "What do I have to do to get ahead?" Barbara Walters tells them, "Don't complain. Don't whine. Just make yourself so good that they cannot let you go. And don't be afraid to get the coffee if they ask you to get the coffee."

Not sure if you're perceived as a grump? Take this simple test to find out:

• Do you find yourself focusing on problems with your company and/or co-workers?
• Do you share this information with others (including family, friends and co-workers)?
• Do you quickly discount possible solutions as unworkable?
• Is your criticism a validation of your overall perspective and your sense of personal contribution?
• Do you often hear others with similar criticisms?
• Do you lend a willing ear to their criticisms?
• Do you sigh, roll your eyes, or otherwise display your negative feelings through your body language or tone of voice?
• Are your creating less because of your dissatisfaction?
• Are you late to work or meetings?
• Do you resent helping others finish their work?
• Are you waiting for a change to happen?
• Has anyone pointed out your negative behavior?

If you answered yes to more than three of these questions, you are a grump. And I can guarantee that you will limit your growth unless you work on turning your attitude around.

Today, identify the three things you like best about your job. Focus on the good. Let others see and hear your positive comments. Start turning it around today.