We are used to using the term “red flag” only when we talk about relationships, but the reality is that we can also use it to talk about work. At least, Donna Morris (one of the most important women in the corporate world, she is the chief people officer at Walmart) has used it to refer to how not to behave as an employee. Yes, this woman believes that there is something that can sink or boost your career, and that is attitude.
“The worst red flag is becoming a Debbie Downer”
That is, one of those people who drains everyone else’s energy, who only brings gloom, who never sees a solution… this pattern is so obvious that it allows you to predict who will grow… and who will stay exactly where they are.
So knowing that there are people who only bring negativity and blockage, let’s see why this behavior weighs so heavily and how it really affects a company.
Negativity is your red flag
Morris speaks after seeing thousands of teams and dozens of companies from the inside. And what she has learned is simple (and a little uncomfortable), but the reality is that attitude matters more than the CV. A “Debbie Downer” is noticed immediately, coworkers, bosses and the environment notice it because they make motivation drop for the whole team…
Mood does matter
Internal culture is almost a living organism. If one person starts spreading negativity, it shows because everyone enters the same mood and productivity drops. And it is also, according to Morris, an early sign that this person is not going to advance any further.
And how does it affect opportunities?
A negative employee automatically becomes a risk for the company. A leader wants to be able to trust and invest in their team, and if you are a bit dramatic, no one is going to want to bet on you.
What is sought in an employee?
In this case, we are talking about what Walmart looks for, a complete city in the form of a company, and Morris has been in charge since 2020.
They look for attitude (of course, skills also matter), but not more than how you collaborate, how you respond to change and how you treat others.
Basically because an employee who adds energy multiplies results, and one who subtracts divides them.
The domino effect
With so many employees, maintaining a healthy culture is a huge challenge, which is why those who transmit optimism are almost “guardians” of the environment, that is how she describes them, and negative people multiply just by having one around, so it is better not to have them on the team.
How not to be a Debbie Downer
No one wakes up one day thinking they want to ruin the team’s vibe, but anyone can fall into easy complaining or even emotional exhaustion, so the best thing is to check how you impact the group (do your comments help? Do you say things well? Do you think you have a good impact on your teammates?)
We are not asking you to be unbearably enthusiastic, just offering options when something does not work, taking on more tasks and being open to new opportunities is enough.
Also, no one is forcing you to be happy all the time, obviously no one likes working, but you have to learn to channel frustration and turn it into progress for everyone.
Surely you also know someone who complains all day, and surely you have thought “please stop”, well, now Donna Morris gives you the key to stop. That is the worst red flag someone can have in a company, because it is seen, it spreads and it paralyzes the rest. So align your chakras, light an incense stick and meditate, because you have to show up to work with good energy and the desire to always move forward!
“the people you see helping others, those are the maximum green flag”