Using Complaints to Reach Success

Everywhere in every sort of business that people conduct there are complaints, by many, and by a few. Complaints do have a purpose, but they also can be addictive. Have you ever noticed that when one person complains others will soon join in with complaints of their own? Stop participating in the conversations and begin to the conversations, and see how complaints will breed more complaints. What we allow our attentions turn to, is what then becomes manifested. That energy of complaining will need to be refocused.

The law of attraction states that whatever we give our attention to is what we are drawing to us. So, with complaints we will need to refocus that energy to come up with positive suggestions for the situation and/or problem. Sometimes the only way we can up with positive suggestions is by listing what we don't want. We don't want complaints, so we need to focus on what we do want. The outcome needs to be a productive well-managed group of organized workers.

Complaints aren't always bad, but they can stir up trouble. Some people will take these complaints personally, and some won't. Feelings will flare up, and people tend to use their emotions with complaints, and make the complaint personal. (Warning, remember complaints will bring around more complaints, so you'll need to set up a time limit for these complaint listings.) In order to refocus it will be necessary to hear about the problems, and the complaints, and list them.

Begin with a staff development workshop and have your organization break into small groups of 3-6 people. (Be sure to provide paper, pens, markers and other materials for this meeting.) Have each group take either one sheet of paper or a piece of large easel paper. On this paper each group is to write down their complaints, or the complaints that have been delivered to them via their customers. The groups will need to list as many complaints as possible in a 15-20 minute timeframe.

These sessions can produce trouble among the groups and organizations. That is why the time limit is vital to successfully change the energy. The group may start complaining about the coffee pot and end up in a riot. Riots are not allowed. Once the timer goes off then begins the work of refocusing the energy. Productivity is the desired outcome. A better business, a better organization is possible by swimming through the muck and mire of complaints.

To refocus each group will take that list, and brainstorm the desired outcome. They will need to write each outcome on another piece of paper, or on the back. Remember the complaints tend to be about what is not wanted. The desire then would be to find out what is wanted or needed. In other words the opposite of complaints would be solutions to those complaints.

To be successful, in any job, business, organization or group complaints must be heard and then transformed or have the energy refocused. The complaints should not be swept under the carpet as often happens in groups. Management and administration often don't want to hear complaints, and they too know that complaining about a situation brings more complaints. This is the law of attraction working for you. Sometimes to obtain the success you deserve, the complaints must surface. Don't be afraid of complaints; use them to refocus the energy to your successful endeavors.