One of America’s retail powerhouses, Walmart’s Chief People Officer, shared some important information when it comes to a person’s career. She indicated some green flags that will get employees promoted faster. Donna Morris, the vice president of the retail giant, stated that there is one behavior that could be seen as the ultimate red flag. One behavior that an employee will not get an employee far in the workplace is when someone is a “Debbie Downer.”
Background information
Morris, 57, has been executive vice president and the chief people officer at Walmart for the past five years, since 2020. She helped shape the employee experience of 2.1 million workers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few years ago.
In addition, before her current role, she spent 17 years at Adobe in various leadership positions. Also, throughout her career, she learned various things including a thing or two about red flags in the office. She indicated that no one wants to hire someone who is a “Debbie Downer.” Morris told this to CNBC Make It, elaborating that this type of person is someone who is always negative.
She further alluded to the fact that, you know that these types of people are going to show up and they are going to bring the problem, never really the solution. Also, she added that she likes people who bring the problem and a suggestion on how it could possibly be resolve.
Being a Debbie Downer
Someone who is a “Debbie Downer” can also be someone who is a constant naysayer. Therefore, sharing negative opinions about the ideas of others and the goals or even regularly being a hindrance to new projects and perspectives. Due to these aspects, it could make it difficult for these “Debbie Downers” to make the needed network needed to climb the corporate ladder, or for their bosses and or even Walmart managers to trust them with new projects.
If your co-worker, for example an employee working at Walmart, has this character trait, they are the “only going to support you to a restricted limit.” CNBC Make It in June 2023, Juliette Han, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist. It was also stated that “They need you to stay within a short leash and might discourage you from meeting new people in the company or going after new projects if it doesn’t benefit them directly.”
How to go ahead
According to Walmart’s CPO, Morris, there various attributes that can separate the most highly successful employees against those who fall short. She also stated that she classifies people in a high category if they deliver their responsibilities at the expected time and if it is what you expected from them. She further alluded to the fact that it is better to submit your tasks earlier, than deliver is later than it was expected. Also, it is better to deliver more than if you deliver less.
In addition, as stated by Walmart’s CPO, another opportunity is when employees are open to opportunities and if they volunteer to take up more responsibility. Furthermore, another aspect that stands out in a company is when a someone brings a problem to the front, but when also provide a possible remedy for it. This solution should be provided in a timely manner, as opposed to the house is on fire.
Another important point to consider is the fact that you can show that you have this kind of team player, if they do specific things. For example, if they have a self-starter attitude, they will offer to help even when they have not been asked for it. Also, they would volunteer to mentor new interns or start pitching an idea that could solve a problem that their boss might have been dealing with. If an employee has this type of attitude, it will get them to places. This is why things have been so effective at Walmart, because of how the management and staff have been developed.