Question

Pick four of the following negative behaviors listed below and describe ways that leaders can handle each type. (source: http://www.workshopexercises.com/Leadership_continued.htm#L13)

Negativity Types

1. The Resisters--They rail against anything different

2. The Wobbly —They are constantly shifting moods and expect others to adjust to them

3. The Gossipers--They spread rumors and tell inappropriate personal tidbits

4. The Blamers—They are constantly blaming others.

5. The Victims—They believe people are out to get them

6. The Adhesives--They can’t let go, even things that happened years ago

7. The Pessimists--They always expect the worst case scenario

8. The Boilers—They will blow over the slightest provocation

9. The Complainers—They feel everything is wrong or will soon go wrong

10. The Choosers—They are constantly pitting one group against another

11. The Detached-- They feel most everything is dumb or beneath them

12. The Self-Absorbed--They are constantly grabbing credit or attention

Answer 1

The Resisters

Leaders can influence resisters by having regular interaction and laying out the road map for transformation which a change is likely to bring and how that will influence them in a positive manner. So a regular schedule of interaction and showcasing the positives of the change is a possible method to convince the "Resisters" to change their mind.

The Gossipers

Leaders need to be stern with this set of people who are unnecessarily spreading false rumors within the organization. They need to be warned that such behaviour is unacceptable and needs to be stopped immediately.

The Choosers

Leaders also need to communicate with the Choosers and tell them that true success and growth can only occur if their is team work and the entire team succeeds. So they need to stop being political and encourage everyone to work in unison and also leaders need to align the compensation structure to ensure that team work is rewarded and conflicts within teams are discouraged.

The Self Absorbed

Leaders need to point out to these people that individual performance won't be rewarded and that only team work and collective performance matters. They also need to be told to give more credit to their team rather than hogging all the limelight themselves. Also they also need to follow up on their instructions with proper actions and reward the better team players with promotion and better monetary compensation.