Persistent complaining is usually a signal, not a character flaw — and reading it correctly is a leadership skill worth more than any attempt to fix the attitude.

Most leaders have someone on the team — or have been the person — who seems stuck in a loop of complaint and blame. Everything is som...

The demands on leaders have grown more psychological. As organizations flatten and work becomes more interdependent, a larger share of a leader's effectiveness now rests on managing team dynamics and interpersonal friction rather than on technical direction alone. The research points consistently to...