What Would Isabel Do?

Practical advice for dealing with cranky customers and crazy co-workers without losing your mind — or your cool.

Question: How do you handle a negative coworker who seems to find the bad in everything instead of the good making it difficult to stay positive around her? 
~Nancy C.

Isabel’s Answer: Attitudes are contagious. It can be difficult to work with a negative person without falling into negativity yourself.

There are many reasons a person takes a “glass-is-half-empty” view of life.  One possibility is low self-esteem. As you may recall, Nikki (aka Miss Grumpy), Olivia’s co-worker in The Napkin, the Melon & the Monkey, was that type person. Once her self-esteem improved, so did Nikki’s view of life. Help your coworker build self-esteem by giving her positive feedback.

By sharing your positive attitude, you’re projecting positive energy. When others feel your energy, they’ll tend to respond in a positive way, allowing you to harmonize at the same frequency. Your positive attitude can make a difference!

A big “thanks!” to Carrie Kelly for composing this response in the spirit of Isabel.

Read about Carrie’s background and find out which of the 22 Aha!s from the book, The Napkin, the Melon & the Monkey, she lives by. Learn more about Carrie…..

Curious about who Isabel the wise woman is? Hint: she is a character in a customer service fable. Learn more…