A short TV/YouTube segment where host and workplace culture consultant Beth Ridley discuss how a constant stream of negative news increases employee stress, reduces engagement and productivity, and can lead to poorer decision-making. Ridley recommends that leaders acknowledge the impact (brief mental-health moments, offer support/resources), avoid pressuring employees to disclose, and promote small, controllable positive actions at work.
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Welcome back. Well, it is no secret that we are sometimes inundated with just negative news, both on the national and the local level. Sometimes all that bad news, it impacts you or your co workers and it can have an impact on employee productivity. So how do we cope? Workplace culture consultant and leadership expert Beth Ridley is back and she's got some help on this topic. Good to see you, Beth.
Good morning.
Good morning. I love this topic because I think it's so valid. We are just, we get so much news these days. It pops up on the top of our phone, we watch it on tv, we see it on social media. It's nonstop, constant. Always used to be that way. So I know you're seeing that there's a real negative impact in the workplace, employees.
There really is. I mean, it's good to be abreast of, you know, current events. So we don't want to ignore the news. But you're right, it seems like this constant barrage of negative news and the research does show that too much negative news, it adds to our stress and anxiety and, and of course, we bring that to work and we get more distracted. We're just not as engaged or productive. And then that leads to bad decision making and bad outcomes.
Yeah, and probably some frustration with your co workers. You take it out on people. That's what we do. So give us some examples of how this negativity can really impact people at work.
So a couple of real life examples that I hear from my clients. So of course, the war in Ukraine. Right. It's consistent and it's been persisting for quite a long time. And so employees who are from Ukraine or have family or friends there or feel some type of personal connection, it's hard to just turn the news off and then just walk away. It lingers with you. We also hear from African American employees that constant news of violence against black people that you might see videos on social media, you can't just turn it off and walk away. It sort of stays with you. And of course, we're human, so we do bring that to work.
It's pervasive. It's pervasive, really. And then you do, I think once you see so much stuff, you walk around thinking it's everybody feels that way towards you or towards that, or there's just this air of negativity everywhere. So as that happens, what can leaders do? So say you're sensing and you maybe can't put your finger on what it is, but you sense that there's this air, negativity or something. In the workplace, what can leaders do to help it?
Yeah, well, I think the main thing is to just sort of be aware and sensitive. I mean, you can't change the bad news, but you can at least be a little empathetic and realize that workers are humans and, and there's always something sort of underlying our mood and our disposition. So I think the most important thing that a leader can do to kind of set a more positive tone at work is to acknowledge. Right? To simply acknowledge. And especially if there's like a bad news story that everyone can relate to and is feeling negative about, let's just say, unfortunately, like a school shooting or something like that, that stays with all of us. So I think to not say anything, you do come across a little tone deaf.
Correct?
Right. So I like to say just sort of acknowledge. Right. I know that there's some bad headlines out there lately and it's very normal that it may be impacting you negatively. Even at the start of a meeting, maybe just pause and give, I like to say, a mental health moment and just say, take 30 seconds, everyone, to collect yourself, maybe become a little bit more present and then let's move forward.
I always wonder if leaders don't do that because then they feel like they're supposed to like, give. So I like that idea of taking just a moment collectively because you feel also that team feeling, we're in this together, we're here together, let's make powerful choices together. What do leaders not do? What's something they absolutely should stay away from?
You know, you don't want to like push someone's boundary, push them beyond their comfort zone. Acknowledging that the news may be negatively impacting people is one thing. You know, like prodding people to talk about it if they don't want to is quite another. Simply acknowledge and move on. Everybody needs something different to, you know, boost their mental health and that sense of well being. And simply acknowledge, you know, I'm here to support you, whatever you need. Maybe that's a mental health day. Maybe that's just a, hey, you know, maybe pass on me, don't call on me in the meeting today. You know, maybe that's, you know, referring them to your employee resources that you have at work. So I think it's just acknowledge, listen and let people know that you're there to support.
It's so interesting because even within the news, our news organization acknowledges how difficult it is for reporters. I mean, every organization is a business, right?
Yeah.
And even if you're reporting the news, you're still impacted by the news. So it's so interesting that you say all that and I do I think just that acknowledgement or saying hey, maybe we'll bring in a mental health person for the day if you want to talk to them, you can. We've done that here. And I just think that acknowledgement, like you said, it's not a push but it's a recognition.
It matters to people and the things that are under our control maybe promote more of that positive news. So we can't control world events but we can certainly acknowledge employees who do a good job. The positive impact that our work is having bring in food sort of solves a lot of problems of course in moderation and have healthy choices too.
Yeah. Thank you so much for joining us. That is so true. To share this segment with a friend or to learn more about Beth, you can Visit our website themorning blend.com and.
