You’ll find them all over. They try to drag people down with them. They don’t believe anything will work and are never happy with their work. They always feel like someone is out to get them. They want you to join them in complaining. Don’t.

Avoid this people like the plague

That’s one way to do. Just walk away from them. Say you have a meeting or a call. Get away from the situation or soon you’ll slowly become infected. If you’re sitting at your desk tell them you have 1 minute before you have to do x. That could be take a call, send an email, or solve some problem. Whatever it may be it will either be a quick conversation or they’ll tell you they’ll come back when the time is better. Look at your watch a few times during your conversation if they decide to stay and end it at 1 minute. 

Solve whatever problem they throw at you

If they start complaining about an issue, remain positive. Solve the problem they’re complaining about. Whether that be the coffee being too hot or the weather outside, come up with a solution. Drink ice coffee. Wear a jacket if you’re cold. Boom, problem solved. They soon stop complaining – at least to you. 

Tell them they’re complaining

This might be my favorite tactic. Make them aware when they complain to you. Tell them, to their face, that they’re complaining. Don’t say shit behind their back because no you’re gossiping. Let them know. One of two things will happen. First off, they will never complain to you again or probably talk to you and two they’ll talk to you but make sure to never complain. It not only helps you stay away from people who complain, but helps them be more aware when they complain. 

Try any one of these strategies. You may like one route over the other. You may use all of these tactics. You might not use any, but either way you should come up with a strategy for dissolving the amount of negativity in your life. Help create more positive people in this world.

“People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.” -Stephen Hawking