Your Team and You ePromotion - Day 9

Tackling Negativity and Turning it Around

Have you ever spent time with people who complain?  Complaining and negativity are very contagious to any team.  Negativity can ruin people’s days and cause people to feel disconnected from one another. 

Recognize that you cannot control anyone else’s negativity and you cannot make people stop being rude or complaining; however, you can control your response to it and you can control your reaction.  Every time we provide a positive connection or response to someone, we benefit ourselves, set a good example for our team, and stop negativity from spreading. 

Today, turn negativity around.  If you hear a complaint from a person on your team, counter it with a positive statement.  If someone complains about a problem, ask them their ideas for a solution.  Practice reflecting negativity off of yourself like using an umbrella to repel the rain.  Practice saying out loud something positive to the people you interact with today.

Terri

Terri Sitrin, LCSW, ACSW, CEAP | EAP Consultant, Dallas District | USPS EAP

214-353-6996 | TLSitrin@magellanhealth.com

Magellan Health Inc,  2341 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX  75220-4415 Go to www.EAP4YOU.com or call 800-EAP-4YOU (800-327-4968) TTY: 877-492-7341

Your Team and You ePromotion - Day 8

Community

A community can be defined by any group of people linked together in some way. That means your team is a community linked by the work that you do.  Just as a community has common norms or expected ways of behaving within that community, so too does your team have its own traditions and common patterns. 
What are the common daily norms and behaviors for your team?  How do people interact on your team?  Does your team have traditions such as

celebrating holidays and birthdays? Does your team have an expected level of civility and constructive communication style or does your team lack in this positive behavior?

Think about your team, your daily norms, and team patterns.  Is there anything that you would like to see change?  If so, be the person who drives that change in a positive way.  It could be that you start a new tradition or engage people to participate in old traditions.  You can be the person who encourages civility and promotes people working together.  Remember, it just takes one person to help foster positive changes within a community!
Your assignment today is to practice positive interaction within your team.  Spearhead a celebration or holiday tradition.  Encourage positive communication and discourage negative habits like gossip.  Practice being a positive part of your community today.

Terri

Terri Sitrin, LCSW, ACSW, CEAP | EAP Consultant, Dallas District | USPS EAP

214-353-6996 | TLSitrin@magellanhealth.com

Magellan Health Inc,  2341 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX  75220-4415 Go to www.EAP4YOU.com or call 800-EAP-4YOU (800-327-4968) TTY: 877-492-7341

Garland, TX, North Station Letter Carrier Kenneth E. Morris, Jr. (right) received his 30-year Service Award from Supervisor, Customer Services Colleen Bane (left).

Garland, TX, North Station Letter Carrier Stephen H. Moore (right) received his 30-year Service Award from Supervisor, Customer Services Colleen Bane (left).

Garland, TX, North Station Letter Carrier Billy E. Simmons, Jr. (right) received his 30-year Service Award from Supervisor, Customer Services Colleen Bane (left).

Garland, TX, North Station Retail Associate Shirl A. Welsh (left) received her 30-year Service Award from Supervisor, Customer Services Colleen Bane (right).

 

 

Garland, TX, Kingsley Station Letter Carrier Shanty L. Castleberry (left) received her 25-year Service Award from Manager, Customer Services Indalecio “Rod” Rodriguez (right).

Waxahachie, TX, Lead Retail Associate Betty Osborne (right) received her fourth Gold Star Award from Postmaster Sonji Butler (left) for a perfect transaction on a Retail Customer Experience.  She has been with the Postal Service for 21 years and is happy to have a fantastic Postmaster.  Osborne commented, “We have an excellent team here and without them I wouldn’t have received this award.  I’m also glad my family supported me all these years throughout my career.”

Dallas District Data Collection Technicians Sandy Johnston (left) and Sunny Mathew (right) received Certificates of Appreciation from Manager, Financial Programs Compliance Cary Wasinger (center) for having zero sick leave usage in 2017.

Dallas District Manager, Financial Programs Compliance Cary Wasinger (left) received her 30-year Service Award from Manager, Finance Simi George (right).