How do you deal with a Debbie Downer?

Try talking to the negative employee. Take a tactful approach and present your case in a constructive way. Come on too strong, and the Debbie Downer is liable to get defensive. But an encouraging, honest approach might solve the issue in one conversation.

How do you respond to negative Nelly?

Rather than trying to explain to them about how wrong you think they are, the best way to handle a Negative Nelly is to validate their concerns and recognize just how they might be right. This will let them know you at least understand them — even if you don’t agree with them.

What is another name for Negative Nancy?

Chatty Cathy, Debbie Downer, Lazy Susan, Negative Nancy, Nervous Nellie, and Bye Felicia, all associate female names with negative traits.

How do you deal with negative team members?

Here are three approaches to managing negative behavior:

1. Create awareness. This is best done by pulling the team member aside and explaining how his comments are received.
2. Reposition negative statements. Negativity can fester and eventually kill a team’s momentum and motivation.
3. Involve the whole team.

How do you live with a Debbie Downer?

5 Ways to Stop Giving Debbie Downers and Negative Nancys Too Much Power in Your Life

1. Guard Your Time. Negative people can monopolize your time — even when they’re not with you — if you’re not careful.
2. Choose Your Attitude.
3. Refocus Your Thoughts.
4. Choose to Behave Productively.
5. Seek Out Positive People.

How do you spot a downer?

Here are 4 characteristics of a Debbie Downer:

1. They quite often wrestle with self-worth. They are their own worst critic.
2. A perpetually unhappy person might hate change.
3. People who are perpetually negative don’t want to do any introspection.
4. If I’m not careful I fit into this category occasionally.

What does Nelly negative mean?

No, it’s just an expression to mean someone who has a negative attitude. “Nelly” is sometimes coupled with an adjective to form a pejorative term. You might also hear “nervous Nellly”. Nelly is a woman’s name, but it isn’t used much any more. A nervous or negative Nelly can be female or male, though.

What is a positive Polly?

The Pollyanna principle (also called Pollyannaism or positivity bias) is the tendency for people to remember pleasant items more accurately than unpleasant ones. Research indicates that at the subconscious level, the mind tends to focus on the optimistic; while at the conscious level, it tends to focus on the negative.

Where did Debbie Downer come from?

While a downer has been used to refer to a “depressing person” since at least the 1970s, the name Debbie Downer was popularized by a hit Saturday Night Live sketch starring Rachel Dratch, who played a character named Debbie Downer. This character consistently ruins a group’s fun by sharing unsolicited sad remarks.

What is a Debbie Downer synonym?

Noun. A person who is considered excessively and disagreeably pessimistic. negative Nancy.

How do you deal with pessimistic people?

3 keys to stop the pessimist cold

1. Create awareness of the problem. Pull the pessimist aside and tell them the effect they’re having, balancing this with positivity about how much they’re valued or appreciated.
2. Reposition negative statements.
3. Involve the whole team.

How do you deal with a negative leader?

10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Boss

1. Make Sure You’re Dealing With a “Bad Boss”
2. Identify Your Boss’ Motivation.
3. Don’t Let it Affect Your Work.
4. Stay One Step Ahead.
5. Set Boundaries.
6. Stop Assuming They Know Everything.
7. Act as the Leader.
8. Identify Triggers.