Ironically for one who has previously written on “The Power of Positive Thinking“, I would like to make the strongest possible commentary on negativity and the destructive influence of negative people.

All organisations have them and they are usually characterised by being covert rather than open, and delight in trying to seek out allies and convert them to their negative slat. They are easily identifiable physically – they tend to sidle sideways rather than walk upright! They believe strongly in conspiracy theories!

Negative people personify the expression that “the blind see only what they want to see.” Their life story is contrasting; everything about their lives outside the work place is very positive. Their children always do well, their spouses enjoy great success at their work place and their family life is the very epitome of the happy ever after story.

At their own work place however, it is a different story. Here their lot is so different. Everything about the work place is wrong. The leadership is wrong, the decisions are wrong, the wrong people are in the wrong places. In a school setting, wouldn’t you just know it, they get more kids than other classes! They get the hardest kids, the slowest kids and the naughtiest kids. They get the worst room, the crapiest furniture and don’t get the same text books as the rest. Every single time they go to use equipment, it doesn’t work, it’s not there or it was left in a mess. And the kids, they don’t get breakfast, their parents don’t care, they’re away from the school and when they’re not, they’re late. They never do homework, other teachers don’t like them, they smell and they don’t try!

The negative person is never at fault and is never wrong. They just get the raw deal. It is always someone else’s fault. Clearly, the reason they get all the slack kids is because the principal doesn’t like them. The fact that the wrong decisions are made, not enough resources are available and the photocopier isn’t working is clearly because the right person isn’t in charge!

A major danger for schools and other organisations is that negativity is contagious and negative people are never content to keep their own opinion to themselves. By covert stealth they seek to influence others and convert allies for their cause. These people are the well poisoners always seeking to find fault, to assign blame and provide reasons for why things can’t happen or won’t work. Present a new idea or initiative and the merchant of doom will immediately list nine reasons why it won’t work. They will then spend the next fortnight in diverted energy trying to convince others of the impending failure! If a child or teacher in another class does well, then of course they would, they had everything going for them. They were obviously given advantages that others didn’t enjoy.

Negative people should be avoided like the plague. They become injurious to health, happiness and career. They are relentless to the point of being boring because they are so one dimensional. They are often shrill and sometimes become insistent of exclusiveness in professional relationships – they will sulk if you are seen chatting with the enemy, especially the boss. They cause you to become very weary and tired as they are high energy drawers. They cause you to become confused by the one sided intensity of their crusade.

Not only is negativity contagious but it is exceptionally dangerous to both physical and mental health. The medical links between negativity, stress and organic or mental health problems are well established. Prolonged exposure to negativity is a form of emotional abuse, and in a marriage, grounds for a divorce. Violence is an extreme form of negativity. The descriptors of serial killers and social deviates are usually always high in negativity. These people are loners, isolates and are absolutely convinced of conspiracies against them.

How do you deal with these people in the work place? The well poisoner thrives on positive feedback to their perspective and an audience. They also prefer to work out of the bright glare of daylight. By depriving them of an audience and by not giving any feedback that could possibly be construed as agreement, you limit their campaign. However, by challenging their perspective either by simply saying “no, that’s not the way I see it” or by challenging their viewpoint, you destroy them. Avoid them, say nothing, or confront them. To stay and listen gives them an audience and simply encourages them.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
- Max Ehrmann ‘Desiderata’