What is the best way to deal with leaders who are negative? Sometimes a simple conversation to share observations and bring awareness can be all that is needed to address the situation. In other cases, there is a behavior that will take some time to change. Here is an article that highlights some ways to fix the most common situations that may occur: 14 Signs Of Negative Leadership (And How You Can Fix It) by the Forbes Coaches Council.
There is also something else that may be occurring though. There may be extenuating circumstances that have caused the person to show up in a negative way at work due to personal issues. Asking questions about what is going on will help you determine if this is a temporary situation or something that will take some time to address. It also shows that you care and that you recognize that this is an exception to their normal behavior. Treating the situation with empathy can go a long way to help the person feel supported.
The most important thing about these situations is to have the conversation. To ensure that you understand what is going on and that you have a sense of when it will be addressed. Letting these things go can cause more problems for you in the long run. It will set a precedent that it is okay for other team members to act that way if you don’t address it. You will also begin to have a morale issue and people could leave your organization because of it. Being proactive in your communication is the best way to tackle the situation head on and ensure it is addressed quickly.