Stress and Burnout

Stress and burnout are prevalent in our profession. Educators are leaving for a variety of reasons including negativity among co-workers. Think about your school, and you can immediately think about the colleagues you avoid like the plague. During your preparation period or lunch, you won’t go into the teachers’ lounge because Negative Nelly is in there. Or Negative Nelson is in there, too. It’s enough to make you sick!

Recognize the Negativity

The sad thing is the negativity spreads through the school, classrooms, and teacher teams. In your school building do you recognize the complainer, micro-aggressor, the angry one, or all of the above? As you review the information below, be reflective and see if you recognize some traits within yourself.

A complainer is usually not happy about many things. He or she complains about the students, parents, principal, and more. Every day is a sad day, or something is always wrong. There is still a list of problems that cannot be solved.

The micro-aggressor is one who dishes out verbal, nonverbal slights, snubs, or insults. From this person, you may experience hostile, derogatory, or negative messages about specific colleagues including students or parents.

Don’t forget about the angry co-worker. He or she falls out with people and gives them a piece of mind. You tiptoe around this person because you don’t want the drama or the tongue lashing. He or she will go off at the drop of a dime and is always mad about something or at someone.

Other Forms of Negativity

Other forms of negativity include:

• Backstabbing, criticizing, and blaming others
• Gossiping and spreading rumors
• Agreeing in team meetings, but not complying afterward
• Undermining others including the principal, grade-level team members, students, etc.)
• Not a team player
• Works behind the scenes to undermine leadership and co-workers

Negativity Affects Your Career

Negative co-workers affect your wellness and other aspects of your career. When you go into a negative situation daily, it takes a toll on you mentally, physically, and emotionally. Many don’t realize the different aspects of your life that are affected by negativity. Here are a few examples:

• Creativity does not have room to grow in a negative atmosphere. Teaching and learning need a positive, creative space for students and staff to be successful.
• Communication is a priority in a school setting. How staff members speak to and with each other affect critical working relationships. If a teacher or principal speaks in a derogatory or hostile manner to staff members or students, the effect is detrimental to the social-emotional climate in that school.
• Teamwork does not work well in a negative environment. The Negative Nellies and Nelsons don’t play well with others. Consequently, no one wants them on the team. Then Nellie and Nelson are isolated, and teamwork suffers the consequences.
• Motivation also suffers the consequences of negativity. When teachers are in a negative environment, many must drag themselves to work every day. Their energy is quickly zapped, and projects, lesson plans, and many other things will not get done.
• Trust in a working relationship is key to success. If a principal is cynical, he or she cannot build trust among the staff, students, or parents. If a teacher is negative, his or her colleagues are skeptical about trusting because their guard is always up. No one will work hard for someone they cannot believe.  Also, nobody wants to work with someone they cannot trust, either.

Dealing With Negative Nelly

1. Remove yourself from the harmful or toxic person.  Recognize that you must keep your ego in check and don’t stoop to their level. When you feel your anger or unhappiness in the situation, physically leave that space. Find a quiet area to give yourself time to regroup and focus on what is essential.
2. Talk to your principal or supervision. Vent to someone you trust. Allow yourself to communicate your feelings about the toxic person. When speaking to the boss, be specific about incidents, times, and places. Be prepared with suggestions on how to help improve the situation. Don’t become the complainer, too.
3. Offer to listen to the complaints of the negative co-worker. Some people just want to be heard. Perhaps they have a legitimate reason to be angry or disappointed. If it’s a valid complaint, offer to help rectify or solve the problem. Also, provide information about resources, counseling, or collaborations that may contribute to improving the situation.
4. Take care of yourself. Recognize how negativity affects your physical and emotional wellness. Pay attention to any signs of stress such as headaches, tense muscles, high blood pressure, anxiety, etc. Learn to meditate or do breathing exercises to calm yourself.
5. Don’t become a part of Negative Nellie and Nelson’s team. They are looking for birds of the same feathers to become active members of their dissatisfaction. If a negative co-worker has an audience to engage, he or she will draw you into the madness. Use the suggestions above to keep your distance and focus on your professionalism and well-being.

Conclusion

Again, negative co-workers affect your health and wellness. However, remember negativity is a choice. You can choose to be positive in your school building and witness academic success. If you decide to become a part of negativeness, you will watch habitual skepticism, uncertainty, and relationships detrimental to students and staff. Embrace the positiveness and be a catalyst for physical and emotional wellness in your school.

Additional Resources

Every School  Has One: Principals Share Tips for How to Work With Negative People

https://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin560.shtml

10 Ways to Deal With a Negative Teacher

How to Deal With a Negative Coworker

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-deal-with-a-negative-coworker-negativity-matters-1917875

10 Ways To Deal With The Negative Teacher

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