You’re complaining too much…

How much energy do you waste by complaining? I don't know how tired you get of hearing complaints, but they never help. According to Brainy Dictionary a complaint is, "To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret. etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; -- commonly used with of." Some of the key words here are censure, murmur or find fault. Not only do you waste your energy, but you also waste the energy of the people to whom you complain. I know that it is important to get things fixed in an organization. We need to help our vendors be better and we need to help those with whom we work be better. Is complaining really the way to do it? Irish Philosopher George Berkeley said, "We have first raised a dust and then complain we cannot see." How often do we complain when we are actually at fault? Here is a thought. Rather than complaining, provide a solution to the problem. Don't tell people they are doing it wrong because they will instantly get defensive. First offer them a suggestion. If they don't take your suggestion, then it doesn't mean they just don't get it, it means that you didn't know how to present it in such a way that they would understand. Your job is to help them see it without being a drain on their energy. -- Corey Smith is the Vice President of Innovation at Fisher's Document Systems where he maintains a blog on business and technology.