Neutralizing Trolls, Vampires and Werewolves (Just Say No, Part 2)

Even after Halloween, the goblins abound: trolls, vampires and werewolves that keep you (and your business) from doing and being your best.

“Trolls are critics who gain perverse pleasure in relentlessly tearing you and your ideas down”, says marketing guru Seth Godin. Trolls can be a time-consuming distraction, especially in social media. The key to neutralizing a troll is to simply ignore them—this is what delete keys were designed for. If you don’t engage, they have nothing to work with. Period.

Vampires drain your lifeblood—you give them your energy, but get nothing back. The cringe-inducing prospect who demands your constant attention, yet finds your fees too high? Vampire. Ignoring vampires doesn’t work—it requires a stake through the heart. Or at least a heavy dose of garlic. Delivering a firm “no” to their demands tends to ward them off.

Werewolves lull you into a false sense of security. Easy to work with when things are going their way, they become scary beasts when their “trigger” is activated. And if you are in their sights, dramatic action is in order. A silver bullet—fast, precise and final—is the only sure cure.

No matter which demon plagues you, the key to neutralizing them is to work quickly, with conviction and consistency. You’ll be glad you did.