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Go complaint-free and get an instant increase in productivity

What is the single most powerful tool that will noticeably increase your productivity at work? Stop complaining. Go complaint-free. Sounds weird? It did to me when I first heard about it. It took me a while to recognise what do my usual complaining, whining and criticising do with my time, energy and attention, and therefore with productivity:

First of all, complaining is a socially accepted form of laziness. Yes, laziness! It feels the space so you think you are busy, but in reality you are staying stuck and distracted.

Second, it takes your attention away from your goal. Attention is the most powerful creative tool, and creativity is a sister of productivity! So, instead of focusing our precious attention on our goals we allow it to be scattered on complaints and whining.

And third, sadly it often substitutes the definition of our existence: “I complain therefore I am”.

Maya Angelou said “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”

After learning all this, I was curious to see what would happen if I stop complaining, and what would I do instead?

I tried and here is my experience. Instead of complaining I am silent, receptive, I am creating more space and time for the things I want to be in my life. My attention goes to the things I desire, things that I want to get done. My attention goes to what I want to be. I am compelled to think of a solution in the situation I don’t like. Pretty cool, uh?

So what does the non-complaining have to do with the productivity and getting things done?

If you don’t complain:

1. you aim at finding solutions rather than staying stuck in your problems.

2. you banish laziness (you cannot get much lazier than complaining and gossiping) and focus on other things, those that you actually want to get done or the things you what to be in your life.

3. as a bonus you start feeling happier, and as a result – more productive.

I am going to challenge myself and go complaint-free for the next 21 consecutive days – this is how long it takes to create a new habit! So, who else is in? 🙂

P.S. By the way, there is a difference between complaining and stating the facts we don’t like. Stating a fact is constructive and calls for a positive action. Complaining is supercharged with negative emotions. And if you come to my office and start saying or doing something I don’t like, I won’t complain. Be sure, I will tell you directly what I don’t like, completely neutral! Or I might just silently point to the complaint-free contract I signed with myself that is hanging on the wall in my office 🙂

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7 Responses to Go complaint-free and get an instant increase in productivity

  1. Kimberly says:

    Nice post, Olga! And so true. I find I am much more creative and effective when I don’t complain. Redirecting clients to forward action rather than re-living the past and complaining about it is a focus of my practice as well.

  2. Wynn says:

    Way to go on the complaint free pledge! I’m sure your positive influence will rub off on those around you. I find this to be the case when I am traveling around the country training teachers. Very often there will be one or two complainers in the room, but with enough positive energy directed their way I can generally get them to come around and drop the complaining. Often they are my biggest fans by the time I leave!

    Wynn

    • Hi Wynn, thanks for stopping by! How lucky are those people who have you as a coach: you recognise the power of our attention and have enough positive energy to even turn them into non-complainers!

      When I slip into a complaint, I then start all over again on my challenge. I found it be a transformational experience to start making requests rather than complain. What a difference it makes to my life!

  3. […] Olga Degtyareva's Blog – be productive at your work place Skip to content HomeAbout ← Go complaint-free and get an instant increase in productivity […]

  4. […] Go complaint-free and get an instant increase in productivity […]

  5. Happiness Kenneth says:

    Hi Olga,
    Thanks for this post. I see myself featuring in the post – procrastinate and complain a lot. You are right – IT IS LAZINESS of high order. I am in for the 21 days challenge. I declare today 16th July 2014 to 7th August 2014 NO COMPLAIN PERIOD. I must obey before complaining.

  6. Yvonne Tse Crepaldi says:

    Thanks Olga! “We are what we repeatedly do.” To have positive energy, we just need to make it a habit to rid any negative thoughts.

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