Dealing with Difficult Employees
A Guide to Dealing with Difficult Employees
Do you run a business or manage a department at a corporation? It’s probable that you’ve experienced dealing with difficult employees at one time or another. This is a common problem for managers everywhere, as not every person we come across is going to be sweet and open to instruction and direction.
Some people just have naturally bad attitudes or bristle under authority. Yet, if they’re brilliant or very good at what they do, and especially if they are in an important job that is difficult to fill, you may be reluctant to fire them. In that case, what do you do?
One of the first things you can try is to lead by example. Be the model of the person you would like them to be. Speak and act in ways you would like to see coming from them. Often, people are more receptive to changing their attitudes when treated with kindness and respect. They will just naturally model it back. There is an old saying that says to be the change you want in the world, and it can work in the workplace, too.
You should also try to think positive thoughts about the employee. Thoughts have an energy of their own, and what you put out there into the universe tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you can’t think of a nice thing to say about an employee, they will feel that negative energy and reflect it back on you. If you make a point to think positive thoughts about him or her, whether you believe them or not, that is often reflected back on you, as well. You tend to get what you expect, so expect the best, and you will be surprised by how often you get it.
If none of these tactics seems to be working, you can always call the employee in for a conference. Dealing with difficult employees is often no more difficult than pointing out to them how they’re being difficult. Many of them don’t even realize it. If they do know how they’re acting, ask them why they are that way, and what you can do to change it. Their answers may surprise you and help you to become a better manager.
Of course, sometimes just talking to them isn’t going to work. You’re going to have to lay down the law for guidelines for workplace behavior and have definite consequences for those who fail to conform. If you work for a large corporation, you may need to get human resources on your side to draft a workplace conduct policy. You could make the policy known by holding a meeting for everyone in the office, and then handing out printed copies of the policy for them to all read and sign. While force isn’t the best way of dealing with difficult employees, sometimes it is necessary because it is the only thing that works. If you want a pleasant work environment, it’s worth doing.
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