One thing in this world you cannot ignore, or change are negative people and vibes. As long as there is positive energy around, there will be negative energy too. But the trick is to find a way to break its barriers using positive thinking. As a famous author puts it: "Quit thinking that you must halt before the barrier of inner negativity.
You need not. You can crash through... whatever we see a negative state, that is where we can destroy it." In today's competitive world, it is hard to keep away this form of destructive energy. For instance, if you get promoted or patted by your boss or even something as simple as your joy, there will be some negative people who will be utterly jealous.
The ones who were so-called close to you, will start cold-shouldering you, become hostile and stare rudely at you as if you stabbed someone. Such elements can make you feel guilty for nothing in silence as silence is the best tool to make someone feel really bad about something that might not even exist and you might be left stewing over that fictional 'something'!
Their purpose would be to put you down in front of someone else. For all you know it may even be a ploy to bring down your work quality so that they can shine in front of the boss. They can go all lowly attempts to show how bad your work style is. If there is a piece of gossip, they will deliberately get into a huddle and talk about it either in front of you or around you, just to make you feel out-of-place. This normally happens when one enters a new organization. The newbie may be struggling to learn and understand the 'ropes of trade'. Instead of making him or her feel welcome and make it more approachable, there will be similar attempts as above to create negative energy. Older the person in an organization, more is the hostility shown by them towards a newbie for varied reasons, unknown to even God, I suppose! One could only guess the reasons. Yet, it is a sad fact that instead of showing initiative in encouraging the newbie to enter a group or breaking ice with the individual, it is often seen that the fresher to the organization (despite having completed a respectable number of years in the field) is made to feel guilty that he or she has yet not picked up the culture of the workplace.
The older experienced guys should remember that they had also started as freshers at some point of time. If they went through a rough training or rude seniors, does not mean that one has to be rude to the new people who join. This becomes particularly important when the so-called fresher is attempting something totally new that he may not have done all his professional life. He or she should be praised and lauded at every step that he is taking in the new field and the organization instead of putting him or her on a total guilt trip! The vicious cycle could only entail in increasing chances of attrition in an organization. It is up to the HR to keep a close tab if the fresher is undergoing any struggle to 'fit' into the team dynamics.
This you may wonder is my story and an attempt to make it sound fictional. Thats not the case. It happens everywhere in a very covert fashion. No one really notices it and of course, choose to ignore it. The 'seniors' of the workplace if made aware of this growing trend, shrug their shoulders and react emotionlessly saying "either the fresher/newbie is oversensitive or overreacting. There is nothing to worry!"
This maybe my ranting on negativity and many may even ask me this question: Charity begins at home. What have you done to tone down negativity at the workplace? I am proud to say that I have mentored and helped many newbies feel at home, at my level - many still thank me till this day! I believe if one tones down negativity, the workplace will grow, and it will mean lesser attrition!
I can only hope that a day will come when one leaves an organization not because of politics, but better opportunities elsewhere.
