HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT EMPLOYEES

Figure 1: Managing Difficult Employee

Managing employees, especially difficult employees, can sometimes be stressful, overwhelming and even isolating. Dealing with the tension when you enter the office every day is really exhausting.

There are different types of difficult employees, some more easily dealt with than others. Here are some common problems:

The employee who does not take the direction
The employee who challenges each decision
The employee who is chronically late
Employee who fails to meet deadlines
The employee who spreads the gossip
The employee developing or propagating a toxic attitude

Consider this action plan for knowing how to deal with difficult employees:

1. Start with something positive

You should be able to find something positive to start discussing their performance. If they have no positive side to their work, why do they always work for you? It is important to put a positive tone at the beginning of a conversation with a difficult employee. In this way, they will see that their work has a value that should motivate them to improve.

2. Focus on performance

When you provide negative feedback to a difficult employee, it is imperative that you focus on his performance, not on himself. In this way, they should feel that they can improve their situation rather than feel attacked on a personal level. It can also lead to a positive response and the employee can be open to change

3. Be direct

You must be firm and direct with a difficult employee. Make it clear that there is a problem but there is also a solution. Leading is not about being loved, and sometimes you have to tell an employee something they do not want to hear. When your message is clear, the employee needs to understand why change is needed.

4. Coach them to success

If the employee is open to coaching, then you have the opportunity to encourage them to succeed. This will involve frequent informal feedback sessions during which you will provide them with the tools for success. These tools could include articles, manuals or even online training.

Conclusion

The lesson is that sometimes, whatever you do, you will not be able to save the relationship. Give your best shot, but be prepared to move on if it turns out the relationship is not worth saving. By gaining experience, you can better assess situations that can be solved and those that cannot. (Matuson, 2017)