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You know negative behavior when you see it in others. The symptoms are: anger, sarcasm, criticism, snarky comments, and sullen silence.

The question is, do you see it in yourself?

Same for “false positives.” This is behavior that is cheerful and optimistic, but deep down, the speaker is simply putting up appearances. The reason is not important: fear of conflict, keep morale from dropping, set an example, or whatever.

Both “negative” and “false positive” behaviors are a problem, if pervasive. If occasional, they are merely a reflection of imperfections in us as humans. Here are some things to watch out for:

• Can you avoid this behavior in yourself?
• If it arises, can you spot this behavior in yourself?
• If yes, can you control it and recover to a “true positive” state quickly?
• If you spot this behavior in others, do you know how to respond without lowering your influence?