Stomp Out the Trolls!
Beyond Cheese, Churchbells, and Lightning!
“What have you done to make another person smile today?”
- Lucille O’Neal (Shaquille O’Neal’s mother)
Stomp Out the Trolls
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
One area of pride in my family is our heritage and history. My parents are hard-working and proud, with deep Nordic roots. It only seems fitting this week’s message would have an iconic Scandinavian hook: trolls!
There are different types of trolls. One kind comes from Scandinavian folklore. They live in mountains and caves and are mean, dangerous, and fans of difficult riddles. These mischievous creatures have been said to be thwarted in different ways, including feeding them too much cheese, ringing churchbells, and if you happen to be Thor, with lightning. Another type of modern-day troll will harass, criticize, or antagonize a fellow human with provocative and disparaging, even mocking, public statements or posts. Unfortunately, it takes more than a chunk of cheese to fight off this kind of troll.
For our personal well-being and growth, we need to avoid feeding these trolls any of our time or energy. The term "feeding the trolls" refers to our tendency to engage with and be influenced by individuals who constantly grumble, whine, and criticize. Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, trolls thrive on negativity, controversy, and love to cause trouble. They are often motivated by self-interests, and their behavior is detrimental to others’ happiness and wellness. On teams, trolls can be especially destructive.
Unfortunately, trolls can appear in any setting and you may have likely encountered a number of them. They don't work well in teams and often attempt to lure others into their negative mindset. They post mean-spirited comments on social media, gossip behind others' backs, criticize others without facts or grace, and spread negativity. To become the best athlete and person possible, you must learn how to deal with trolls effectively.
It is crucial to avoid feeding the trolls in your life. Instead, focus on positive actions and interactions. Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. Engage in constructive criticism and feedback that promotes growth and improvement rather than negativity. Refuse to engage with them or be drawn into their drama. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of your team and the progress that you are making.
Trolls aren’t helpful. Do not feed them by engaging with their negativity or allowing them to bring you down. Instead, remain focused on your goals and continue to work hard to become the best leader, teammate, and person possible.
“Stay true to yourself, engage with your followers, and ignore the critics.”
– Ella Woodward
Connecting this quote to the story. Focus on what you can control and don’t let the opinions of others define you. By staying true to yourself, engaging with positive influences, and ignoring the critics, you can build resilience and achieve goals despite the trolls you may come across.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Don’t feed the trolls! Do not give your power to others by allowing them to negatively influence your mood and attitude.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Updates on Chasing Influence
I was honored to join the Great Coaches podcast released this week - check it out here.
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life is available in Kindle, softcover, hardcover, and audiobook editions.
For additional resources, links to podcast appearances, and other Chasing Influence news, click here.
©Troy Urdahl, 2024