Do You Have Any Energy Vampires on Your Team?

Energy vampires are employees who drain the motivation and morale of others. They can seriously hinder team morale and productivity. Here are some tips to spot the warning signs and take proactive steps to address negativity in the workplace, ensuring a positive and collaborative environment.

Signs of an Energy Vampire

Everyone is entitled to a bad day. But most employees bounce back in a day or two. When looking for energy vampires in your midst, search for these telltale signs:

  • Constant complaining
  • Dominating conversations
  • Starting or perpetuating office drama
  • Finding (or creating) new problems
  • Undermining changes to workflows or processes
  • Ongoing procrastination, even (or especially) when it impacts team outcomes
  • Underperforming and possibly trying to skate by on the bare minimum
  • Making excuses for poor performance

What to Do Next

Once you’ve identified your energy vampires, what should you do? In extreme cases, you might have to let them go. But most can be redeemed with smart management skills.

  • Be proactive. Don’t wait until annual reviews. If you see employee morale start to slip, address the issue right away.
  • Assume the best. Give your energy vampires the benefit of the doubt. They might not even realize what they’re doing or how it’s affecting others.
  • Practice active listening. Talk to the people who are causing issues, but be careful not to make accusations. Ask open-ended questions about their perspective on what’s happening in the workplace and any professional or personal challenges they’re facing. Lead with empathy, ask clarifying questions, and involve them in finding solutions.
  • Set realistic expectations. Work together to set goals for behavior changes. This allows them to take ownership of their actions and make a conscious choice to contribute in a healthier way.
  • Schedule follow-ups. Set times to meet with each energy vampire one on one to track progress. Make it clear that you expect them to live up to the goals they set, and explain what the consequences will be if they don’t. At each follow-up session, continue to lead with empathy while holding the employee to account.

Not all energy vampires will respond to these tips. In some cases, you may need to escalate the situation further up the chain of command or make the difficult decision to let them go. But the majority of people with these tendencies genuinely want to do a good job and simply need someone to take a personal interest and hold them accountable.

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