How To Deal With A Negative Complainer - Jocko Willink

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@jockowillink @echocharles

Excerpt from JOCKOPODCAST 225

[lestudio]

Covid: shuts the world down

Jocko: Good. Perfect timing.

[Sonatarium]

The most underrated tool of leadership, ears... 😂

[BenSemisch]

"Intention has a strong smell". That's a golden nugget for sure.

[rocknflip]

“How to deal with complainers”

Jocko: “Jujitsu”

[frankenclouds]

I started dating this girl and soon into it i realized 80% of her convo was complaining... That was over as soon as i found the nicest way to break it off. I told her i thought i was gay😂

[hunterpoteete]

I hope @EchoCharles know we appreciate him always playing devils advocate and causing the expansion of the conversations! He really helps the lessons stick!

[NaturalHypertrophy]

You can't fix people who don't want to win. I respect anyone who has the patience to deal with whiners

[somethingtodo]

Negativity can be so toxic and difficult to deal with. Trying to remove it from your life as much as possible is one of the best things you can do

[ftnwo]

This dude looks a male version of Matt Damon.

[MM-enhi]

Just purchased your book Extreme Ownership, I think you've saved my life by opening up my eyes to my own failures. since starting watching your videos I've quit smoking and overall, taken control of my life. I've become a better me, because my eye were open.

[nadiacoffey]

I had a supervisor once who complained about my job performance non stop. She was convinced that I was lazy and incompetent. I met with her once and asked specifically what parts I needed to improve on in order to keep my job. I wrote each complaint down. We planned to meet again in a couple months to discuss how I had improved. Over the next two months I wrote down specific dates and times in which I took action to improve my job performance based on the things she said. I even wrote down names of co workers who were there. I actually didn’t change anything I was doing. She was actually completely wrong about everything she said about my work ethic. I simply documented all the ways in which my actual performance contradicted what she said and then gave her credit for what she perceived as changes. If I simply argued with her about how she was wrong she would have gotten defensive and my work life would have been a living hell. Instead I brought my notes to our next meeting, I got to keep my job and she never complained about me again. She actually offered me her job when she left the company. I promptly turned it down because I loved my job at the time.

[SentientBurrito]

I like Jocko's solution in addressing the complaint and providing a valid reason and answer instead of brushing it off

[vktravellog]

I am a negative complainer and I am working on trying to turn that around. I am working everyday trying to improve myself and get rid of this awful trait!

[Hairy.Whodini]

Summary: Address their complaints in a serious, professional manner

[toleplays]

I had a great situation with a debbie downer and I did exactly what Jocko suggested. "Hey, man. Take over this operation for the week. Give you the chance to make an impact on what you're criticizing. If nothing else, it'll be a good perspective for you." He turned it down, then stepped down from his leadership role in our organization. For someone who was already being a lackluster leader, I was happy to give him the extra boot he needed. Obviously not the intended result, but it was great to see Jocko giving some good advice that I had already implemented.

[acesthearts]

Complaints comes from doubt and once you relieve them of that with sound logic that builds their trust in your leadership and respect for you

[bucktownxxx]

People rip on the buzz killer, but one important thing to note is that the complainer sometimes just happens to be "that guy" who has the balls to speak up about negative aspects that were imparted on a team that no one else will speak up about. So they're considered the outcast. Sometimes it should be viewed as constructive criticism and maybe that person actually knows wtf they're talking about and should be listened to. I've been in that position several times and hate to be the complainer but have had bosses listen and realize, holy shit that's actually a legit argument but I make sure I say that it's meant to be constructive and no one else will probably say this but....and lead into my argument. Upper mgmt in any agency/corporation generally has serious problems with understanding concepts/effects/metrics at the "field soldier" level, so people do need to speak up or change is unlikely to happen. This is the biggest corporate battle I face on an ongoing basis. The courage to speak up for the greater good is a rare quality in an employee, but necessary.

[BLAISEDAHL]

I sometimes find myself complaining, and I get frustrated because I know I can do better so I try to keep listening to great advice online. Thank you Jocko & Echo. This helps!

[GC_]

Most 'chronic complainers' I have met seem to have issues with life that they havent worked out yet. Either its the 'little guy' syndrome or they have been raised in a negative manner (parental negativity towards perceived 'wrongdoings') that it carries over to adult life. In some instances, there is a combination of the two and the fact they just might be an arse. If thats the case, there is not much changing in attitude thats going to happen, in my experiences.

[danialcrockett]

I love how echo’s voice & conversation style is in contrast to his badassness