A complainer is usually described as someone who whines, blames others and makes a number of accusations. They manage to find fault with everything, and gripe ad nauseam about everything. They point out real problems but they do it in a manner that elicits defensive responses from others.
You must not put people who have a legitimate complaint or those who need to just get something off their chest in this category.
You find yourself automatically giving in or becoming defensive with the person. This can occur whether or not you have done anything wrong.
Complainers do not feel that they are whining. They feel they are providing a warning about something gone wrong that someone else must fix. Complainers usually feel they are powerless in the control of their own life. They have an image of the way things ought to be and a galling sense of injustice that they are not that way. Complainers do not feel they have any responsibility to the problem.
How to Cope with a Complainer
- Listen - this allows the person to let off steam, and releases feelings of frustration, and anger. Being heard can lessen the sense of being dismissed and feelings of powerlessness. This provides you with the next step and confirms the person is a complainer and not someone who just needed to get something off their chest.
- Acknowledge or backtrack the main points of what the person has said.
- You should be prepared to interrupt. Once you have heard the complaint, interrupt firmly, but nicely. Do not let the person repeat themselves.
- Try using limiting responses. Complainers like to use words like “never” and “always”. To begin the problem solving approach when acknowledging their complaint, you should include specifics of locations, times or facts.
- Don’t Agree/Don’t Disagree and don’t ask “WHY” - you will never end the conversation. It will continue to repeat. State facts without comment and apology.
- Switch to Problem Solving
- Pose specific problem solving questions - ask what outcome do they want?
- Expect some frustration - Do not expect this system to work on the first try. Bring the person back to the issue and question if they return to complaining.
- Assign limited tasks; ask the complainer to collect information relevant to the problem. This bridges the gap between the Complainers concern and their sense of powerlessness.
- Get it in Writing – you must ask the Complainer to write down the problem. Putting it into words can help to feel a sense of control over the problem.
- Give them a deadline and supporting anything constructive they do can encourage their participation.
- If all else fails ask the Complainer “how do you want this discussion to end?”