GUIDANCE: Five Ways To Deal With Negative People In A Small Town

Every community -- regardless of size -- has its share of negative residents. It's just that in a small town, everyone knows who those negative people are. Nowadays, social media platforms make it even easier to spot them.  

These are the folks who can spot flaws in the best of situations. They are the ones who like to air their negativity publicly. They believe that nobody could do the job better than them, if ever they were around to actually help.

Putting up with constant negativity is draining, at best. At worst, it's a morale killer that negatively affects the attitudes of fellow residents.

Here are five simple strategies for dealing with negative people in a small town:

1.) Don’t write off the negativity. It’s easy to dismiss negative attitudes and comments with remarks like, “That’s just the way he/she is.” But sometimes, negative people are pointing out real problems and legitimate concerns that can and must be addressed. Town leaders, school administrators, business owners, and group organizers need to take into consideration all serious comments and complaints, even if from the consistently-negative crowd.

2.) Consider the circumstances. If an always-negative resident is coping with a personal matter that is affecting his/her behavior, be sympathetic. In a small town, we often hear what other people said, but we don't know the circumstances that may have prompted the comments. The truth is, those persistently negative people probably have a big void in their lives. 

3.) Make Negative Nancy and Ned part of the solution. Sometimes, community leaders simply need to let those negative folks know that their concerns are being heard. It would make more sense for them to tell someone who can do something about it, instead of airing their negative comments for all to hear or read. Establishing a special committee and offering a committee spot to the negative person would put the burden on Mr./Ms. Negative to be part of the solution.

4.) Be rational in your approach. Negativity is mostly emotional, so don't combat emotion with more emotion; combat negativity with facts. Example: If someone is constantly saying the cost of living is too high in Dorchester, show them Dorchester easily has the lowest school levy in Saline County; show them that Nebraska, overall, is one of the 15 least expensive states in which to live. 

5.) Know when to say goodbye. At the end of the day, some people only want to complain and wear a constant frown. Perhaps they feel isolated or can't see it's their own attitude acting as an impediment to making their community a bit better. For these folks, it's best to leave them alone and not give them a platform.