If you are doing any type of serious leadership, you are going to hear complaining. As I discuss in this episode, complaining isn’t always a bad thing, but you need to handle it appropriately as a leader. In this episode, I discuss seven ways to handle complainers in your organization.

1. Expect ingratitude “The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” – Colin Powell

2. Give people time and a venue to complain

3. Set the agenda in advance (and time frames)

4. Require solutions to problems

5. Set time limits and stick to them (see details in the 6 Habits to Keep People from Wasting Your Time article)

6. Be frank with people

7. Limit your interactions with that person (try the others first)

Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.