When One Staff Member Is Draining the Team

The situation

You have a team member who challenges everything.

They question new initiatives.
They sound skeptical in meetings.
They may come across as negative, blunt, or hard to please.

And part of you wonders: Is this person dragging the team down?

What’s really happening

Cynicism is often mistaken for disengagement — but they’re not the same.

Disengaged staff have checked out.
Cynical staff are still paying attention.

Cynicism usually comes from caring deeply, combined with past experiences of feeling unheard, dismissed, or burned by change that didn’t actually improve things. What looks like resistance is often frustrated commitment with nowhere productive to go.

Left unaddressed, cynicism can spread.
But when it’s acknowledged and engaged, it can become one of your greatest assets.

What helps

Instead of trying to shut cynicism down, redirect it.

• Acknowledge their perspective without arguing with it
  

• Invite them into problem-solving, especially in areas they care about
  

• Start small with ownership — one project, one improvement, one voice that matters
  

• Follow through visibly so trust can build
  

• Recognize contributions publicly to reinforce engagement
  

You’re not trying to change who they are.
You’re giving their energy a place to land.

Listen to the podcast episode

🎧 Why Your Most Difficult Staff Member Might Be Your Most Valuable (Ep. 11)