Never badmouth your employer: Here is why this is important

Never badmouth your employer. Yes. No matter how tempting it is to speak ill of your employer or colleagues, do not do it.

The thing is, very few places of work are all rosy – in fact, I am yet to come across such a place. No matter how terrible your current workplace is, do not badmouth it – anywhere and ever.

There are people that do not stop speaking ill about their organisations. Agreed, your work might not be there best but you are not doing anything good by spreading the negative publicity.

You have a number of options if you are unhappy: (1) propose the change that you desire to your employer/ colleagues, (2) if that fails, tolerate the unfavourable environment – yes that’s a solution (3) if that fails again, leave. These really are your options. You do not do yourself any favour by badmouthing your employer.

When problems arise in a workplace, it rarely is the whole company that’s causing the problem. It’s usually an individual or two. Identify what or who is the problem? Can you isolate the problem? Can you do anything about it? Can you escalate it?

The world is too small. As cliché as that sounds, it really is.

A wise person is prudent about whom they tell their problems to. They also consider, does the person that I am telling my problem have the capacity to help me solve it? Too often we tell our problems to people who will add no value at all.
Nobody likes a grumbler. Like seriously, do you like a grumbler?

Let me tackle it from an employer’s perspective (current and prospective): A person that complains comes across as not being able to resolve problems through negotiation and basic diplomacy (which are critical interpersonal skills). People that complain are also seen as a divisive influence – they don’t deal with the problem. Instead, they incite others into riotous behaviour. Speaking personally if am I recruiting and I see a complainer, I see a person who will potentially cause needless headaches, and wasted hours spent in mediation between you and co-workers or management.

You might have personal bad feelings about your current employer or a specific member of your team, but, be professional about it. Even when you are right, if you manage it unprofessionally you paint a bad image of yourself.

Collin Bhiza is a Senior Consultant at Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd a management and human resources consulting firm. Phone 481946-48/481950/2900276/2900966 or cell number 077 3033 748 or email: collin@ipcconsultants.com or visit our website at www.ipcconsultants.com