After my last employment stint ended – about 14 years ago – I had gone to see a therapist for a while. The situation was so bad that I actually had to seek out professional help to work through it and handle the severe depression that resulted from the ending of that job. I told the therapist about how people said that I was negative when I would share observations about a particular situation….and usually I share very directly – as I am a very direct person.
She stated, after I gave some examples, that I was NOT – in fact, Negative….but a highly analytical person who would share observations and insights. The problem she stated, as I recall, was that the recipients of that feedback are not equipped to handle it
I recall once, sitting in a meeting with my boss at a former employer and listening to some plan they had to introduce a new solution to the market. I outright told them that it probably would not work because the culture of the company was not sales/marketing oriented, there was little support, and they would need to change certain things before it would succeed. I had facts and examples behind it. My boss proceeded to call me into his office shortly after the meeting – not only to inform me that I was very negative, but that I should not talk to the owner of the company in that manner (one of the owners of the business was in the meeting). He was quite angry with me. Not long after that I was terminated from the company.
Now, when I share that type of feedback with my clients particularly – many of them are grateful and appreciate the honest and direct information. My more successful clients have actually taken the information seriously and have made adjustments at times as a result. I suddenly went from being “negative” to being a valued resource of information.
My share here is that as an employer or business owner – be aware of what is truly negative and what is positive feedback that can affect business outcomes. Someone who says “we can’t do it, because it has always been done this way” – that is negative…..someone who says “we can’t do it because we currently lack the right culture and infrastructure and support (with examples)” is someone who is saving you from future business failure.
Be smart enough to distinguish it.