One of the most impactful decisions successful leaders and teams make is to ensure that negativity does not sabotage their efforts.

Over the past 20+ years, it has been observed that great teams and leaders do not avoid negativity; instead, they confront, address, transform, or remove it. Negativity exists and cannot be ignored. One of the most significant mistakes teams make is allowing negativity to go unchecked, letting it fester, and ultimately sabotage the team.

Here are three effective ways to overcome negativity:

No Energy Vampires Allowed

Mark Richt, the former head football coach of the University of Georgia, once had his team read The Energy Bus and invited the author to speak to them. After a rocky start to the season, with two losses, Richt remained resolute. Despite media pressure, Richt assured his team that they would not allow “energy vampires” to ruin their season. He even had a large picture of an energy vampire drawn on the wall of the team meeting room, and if a player or coach exhibited negative behavior, their photo was placed on that wall. This tactic communicated that the team would stay positive through adversity.

The strategy paid off, as the team went on to win the next 10 games in a row and reached the SEC Championship.

Implement the No Complaining Rule

One of the most powerful ways to overcome negativity in teams and transform a toxic culture is by implementing The No Complaining Rule. The rule is simple: Complaints are only allowed if one or two possible solutions accompany them. This approach eliminates mindless and toxic complaining, empowering teams to focus on solutions rather than problems.

This rule has been successfully implemented in various businesses, schools, and hospitals, leading to enhanced engagement, culture, teamwork, and performance. When teams focus on solutions, their performance rises to new heights.

Positive Conflict

Weeding out negativity does not mean eliminating disagreements. Positive teams may disagree and even fight, but this does not make them negative. Conflict is necessary for a strong team. Teams that engage in positive conflict challenge the status quo, ask difficult questions, and encourage one another to improve. Constructive criticism and difficult conversations are key to growth and success.

Building trust and strong relationships allows teams to handle conflict healthily and positively, ultimately strengthening the team.

Negativity is a part of life, but the best leaders and teams feed the positive and weed out the negative. Understanding how to overcome negativity is what makes great teams truly great. By applying these strategies and working together, teams can achieve more than they ever thought possible.