The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work (Jon Gordon)

by Jon Gordon

Step 1: Explain the Cost of Negativity and Complaining

Step 2: Share and Explain the No Complaining Rule

Step 3: Justified Complaining versus Mindless Complaining

Step 4: Identify and Share Your Complaint/Solution Process

Direct Report.

Complaint Czar.

Executive Team.

Complaint Terminator.

The Good Ole Shoe Box.

Step 5: Listen, Hear, and Act

Step 6: Celebrate Successes

Step 7: Monitor and Enforce the No Complaining Rule

Step 8: Distribute No Complaining Tools

Distribute cards with the No Complaining Rule printed on them. • Distribute cards with the three No Complaining Tools (page 49) on one side and the Five Things to Do Instead of Complain (page 114) on the other side. • Post NO COMPLAINING, SOLUTIONS WANTED, and STAY POSITIVE posters in your office, home, or locker room, for example. Posters can be found at www.NoComplainingRule.com. • Have each person on your team read this book.

Step 9: Designate a No Complaining Week

To implement a No Complaining Week, try the following: • Introduce the No Complaining Rule. • Make sure everyone has the No Complaining Tools mentioned in Step 8. • Encourage people to monitor their own thoughts for the week and pay attention to how negative they can be. • Create a fun reward/punishment process when people do complain. For example, in some organizations people put a dollar into a jar every time they complain. At the end of the week, they donate the collection to a charity. • Provide each person with the “No Complaining Week” Personal Action Plan found on the next page.

Day 1: Monitor Your Thoughts and Words

Day 2: Make a Gratitude List

Day 3: Take a Thank-You Walk

Day 4: Focus on the Good Stuff

Day 5: Start a Success Journal

Day 6: Let Go

Day 7: Breathe

5. Slightly Agree

5. Slightly Agree

6. Agree

7. Strongly Agree

6. Agree