Have you ever walked into a room right after people have been arguing?  It feels uneasy, even the air itself seems heavier…you can’t wait to get out of there. That’s what it feels like to customers if the employees in your workplace have a negative attitude.

Attitudes are contagious. One negative person can bring down a whole room. Whether a co-worker is just having a bad day, going through a tough time, forgot to check their attitude at the door or is just short-fused and critical by nature their vibe undoubtedly affects everyone they come in contact with. If your teammates have a negative attitude how can you keep from catching it or letting it alter your sunny disposition?

First realize that you are the only one who has the power to decide your mood.  You can involuntarily get sucked into someone’s whirlpool of pessimism or you can choose to be optimistic. You can choose to feel hurt by co-workers insensitive criticisms or you can realize it isn’t about you, but about their own fear and insecurities. If their temper is directed at you it is likely a lack of understanding about your intentions that is causing their behavior.

Take your emotions out of it and look at things in a detached manner. If it helps, think of yourself in a protective bubble where nothing can touch you. You can clearly see what is going on around you, but you are safe and unaffected.

Try to remedy the condition. You can offer assistance with a project or try using humor or kind words to break the tension.  If this doesn’t work back off and let it go.  Further attempts may aggravate the situation making things worse; at least you tried to make things better.

Guard against the effects of negativity by surrounding yourself with as many upbeat people as you can both in your professional and personal life. Remember, that positive attitudes are just as infectious as negative ones.