When you hear "those people are always complaining" then you're looking at a systemic problem. It's probably not a personality type; it's probably that the system in play disadvantages them constantly. It's easier to do victim-blaming, but maybe it's time to investigate.
The Fundamental Attribution Error is too easy to fall into, especially when it allows you to write off a whole group of people you don't know how to please.
This isn't a social justice thing (only), but it's an organizational thing. "Testers are all whiners", "the programmers are always grumpy", "middle managers are so brusque and rude", "ops people are jerks"
Which group "always complains" where you work... and have you ever looked at the systemic reasons for that?
And which individuals? Are they really getting an unfair deal? Are they speaking for their peers? What's really going on here? What if it's not "just personality" or "just that kind of person"?
I would think that people who are chronically, systemically disadvantaged *would* complain the most. That's perfectly reasonable.
It is possibly not because they're fragile, or weak, or privileged, or prima donnas.
Maybe it's because you treat them like crap.
Or because you write them off instead of listening.
Maybe it's because you treat them like crap.
Or because you write them off instead of listening.
And maybe you don't like them complaining because you're somewhat at fault.
That's a pretty human reaction.
That's a pretty human reaction.
Maybe victim blaming is a way of keeping them in line; after all, everyone else puts up with it so why shouldn't they?
But when someone complains to you, they're bringing you a problem that they'd like to help solve, or to have solved for them. Isn't having fewer problems in the org a good thing? How important is it to perpetuate the problems?
When you hear "people are always complaining, just ignore them" -- is that a sign your company culture sucks? Is it that bad to work with you? What can we do to make it worthwhile?
How can we "make people awesome", "delivery value continuously", "make safety a prerequisite"? Can we experiment and learn to see what works?
