Psychologists say, “Generally, those who engage in criticism or negative talk are the ones who carry a kind of negative confidence within themselves.” So, if you repeatedly criticise a colleague to another colleague day after day, it means you are further reinforcing your own negative self-confidence. Dr Mekhla Sarkar, a psychiatrist, said in a podcast, “At the workplace, refrain from behaviours such as mocking colleagues, criticising them, or speaking behind their backs. Criticising others or making negative comments actually puts you in a negative position. It also creates a negative impression of you in the mind of the person you are speaking to.” She added, “This negative criticism, mutual fault-finding, or the practice of engaging in negativity makes the workplace environment highly toxic. Not only does it damage the working environment, but it also harms your own image in the eyes of others. What you say, and whom you speak about, eventually reaches that person. In doing so, you end up creating unnecessary enemies.” Mekhla Sarkar’s advice is to try to set clear boundaries at work. Stay within those boundaries and avoid engaging in negative criticism of others. If you can follow this advice, your image will not become negative in the eyes of others, you will avoid creating unnecessary enemies, and your positive self-confidence will continue to grow.