In this report, we identify four main problems managers experience with difficult employees: 1. But dont worryhere are some tips on handling difficult work situations like a pro. Plan your approach on a case-by-case basis. Of course, some managers don't have the opportunity to work with employees from Day One. When employees seem unreasonable, belligerent, or uncooperative, managers may be tempted either to brush aside the problem or, alternatively, to fly off the handle. After finding the root of the problem, set clear expectations for this employee and remind them that wasting work hours is a form of stealing and cannot continue without disciplinary action. In some cases, an employee's problematic behavior and attitude indicates that the worker is not engaged with the job, Timmes said. For employers, it is important to recognise difficult behaviours and to understand what action they should take. Once you get down to the basic problems and what may be causing them, then you can work to resolve those issues. What Does Difficult Situation Mean? Any difficult workplace situation can be resolved successfully with the right attitude and approach. As a result, I acquired 18 endorsements that impressed my boss and boosted the book sales significantly.. In that case, you may be cutting them slack when you shouldnt be. By ensuring your employees have sufficient time during sanctioned breaks and at after-work events, they should stay more focused during their working hours. And, sometimes, an honest and supportive conversation will reveal that the staffer is simply not in the right job. Manage Settings "Point out the policies around this, and ask the employee how he will remedy the situation," she said. All rights reserved. The first objective are they aware of the way their attitude and actions are affecting the people around them? Because of this, I decided to create an updated version of that training course, which included videos and multiple-choice tests after each lesson. Communicating effectively with your coworkers, boss, and other employees can help resolve complex problems. It may also be an opportunity for the manager to highlight the organization's employee assistance program or other resources the company may have to help, he added. Similar to the procrastinator in the way they attempt to avoid work, the excuse maker is more creative. Documentation is an important part of the process, experts said. HR Compliance Is Your Business At Risk? Office politics can be tricky to navigate, but it doesnt mean you should avoid it altogether. No matter what industry you work in, its likely that you will have to deal with difficult workplace situations at some point. Copyright 20092023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. During the onboarding process, a manager should initiate conversations with the new employee about expectations, responsibilities and other topics that will make the employee's role clear. In particular, many organizations fail to set clear, effective accountability standards for employees. If they're interacting with your clients, it could even lead to loss of . I aimed to study everything he had already prepared and finish the presentation as quickly as possible. Managing Difficult Employees, Problems and Solutions Leaders Guide to Managing Workplace Stress Leaders Guide to Managing Workplace Fraud, Theft, and Violence Fostering a Culture of Engagement How to Avoid the Seven Biggest Teambuilding Blunders Executives Guide to Strategic Workforce Planning Fostering a Culture of Engagement Make sure you are on the same page with your manager, so there is no confusion later. It could also be the result of poor communication, misalignment, lack of resources, or something else entirely. Managing difficult employees is an unwanted but all-too-common issue for employers and managers. When you observe team members seeking to solve problems productively, you need to "publicly affirm that they're doing the right thing," says Grant. In this video, Professor Guhan Subramanian discusses a real world example of how seating arrangements can influence a negotiators success. Procrastinating does not always have to be bad. Instead, uncover the root cause of the individuals actions and work to address the issues. The best way to handle an unhappy customer is with empathy and understanding. For example, someone who is antagonizing teammates on a project might deserve to be complimented for his dedication to the project and high standards. Time management. That said, it is always wise to seek legal advice before making any rash decisions because you may still find yourself in the grips of an employment tribunal. Or they may be struggling with their work/life balance, in which case a hybrid working arrangement such as flexible working or working from home could help improve engagement. However, they rarely seem to recognise the value of a strong team, preferring to work independently. The following three guidelines can help managers navigate the challenge of managing difficult people at work. Although workplace gossip tends to start off innocuously, if it gets out of hand, it can lead to a significant decrease in a teams productivity. While I wasnt familiar with their tools, I offered to test the site anyway. Difficult staffers. Do so constructively when communicating your solution or response in a difficult situation. Brainstorm solutions. These cookies do not store any personal information. Difficult behaviors can disrupt the work environment, making it imperative for managers to maintain a calm demeanor and follow through on proper documentation of issues. Attong recommended that a manager coach this type of employee to help make her presentation and style more palatable, but still offer constructive suggestions that lead to improvements. In this report we identify four main problems managers experience with difficult employees.. . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. This can create myriad problems in the workplace as they normally dont function well as a team player or in a leadership role. What is a difficult employee? When this type of employee falls into workaholic behaviour and never takes time off, even when they are ill, they are prone to burn out and can easily make mistakes due to stress, or find themselves signed off work due to stress-related illness. This will help ensure that your emotions dont take over the conversation and make the situation worse than it has to be. Managing Difficult Employees, Problems and Solutions - Popular Insights, Inc Managing Difficult Employees, Problems and Solutions Home / Case Studies / Managing Difficult Employees, Problems and Solutions In this report we identify four main problems managers experience with difficult employees.. Case Study Download This is the person that tends to drag their feet and run out the clock most days. Continue with Recommended Cookies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Understanding how to arrange the meeting space is a key aspect of preparing for negotiation. These types of employees are usually high achievers and excellent performers. 2019 Staff Leasing, All rights reserved. Rather than taking a top-down approach to correcting problems that arise, engage your employees in helping to identify solutions. 5 Common Behaviors of Difficult Employees Watch for These Problems. 10 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Employees Critique the employee's behavior, not the employee. She is also the author of Managing Poor Performers 4. Often predicts doom. Offer tailored solutions, so they know you are paying attention and taking their needs seriously. Katie Shonk on November 30th, 2020 / Dealing with Difficult People. So lets look at some tips for answering questions about difficult work situations in an interview. They do not seem to be satisfied with anything, which ultimately causes team negativity. What is the effect of emotional intelligence in difficult work situations? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Set a positive tone from the beginning, and maintain that attitude. The employee should be given time to improve. Are you managing difficult employees? Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Egotistical Eddie. "The first thing to do is make sure that there's no witch hunt, that facts truly are factsand they can change, so be careful hereand to have an approach similar to a jurist in a court case.". Additionally, dont be afraid to ask for an extension if neededthis shows that youre taking the task seriously and are organized in your approach. It was my aim during our meeting to politely frame the issue in a way that would communicate that we wanted to know how we could make things better for him. Here are a few examples of difficult work situations and how to deal with them effectively. Focus on problems, not personalities, when dealing with challenging employees. In this case, its crucial to stay organized and prioritize tasks so that the most important ones are completed first. Bring High-Level Values to the Table, Value Conflict: What It Is and How to Resolve It, Negotiation Skills and Strategies: Winning Over Reluctant Counterparts, Conflict Resolution Success Stories: A Surprising Tale from Congress, Famous Negotiations Cases NBA and the Power of Deadlines at the Bargaining Table. Before you walk into the interview, its important to have examples of difficult work situations that youve encountered in mind. Preventing Employee Burnout]. Accountability is important for the victim mentality as it designates the responsibility they must accept. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Improvement plans should always be documented, which set out any consequences if things do not change for the better. Follow these ten tips for managing difficult employees to make the process easier and increase your chances of improving the situation: Critique Behavior, Not People It was not my intention to focus on his behavior but on what we could do to surpass his expectations. They should also be given the right to appeal any decision. Try not to take their behaviour personally, stay professional and avoid becoming angry and frustrated. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. How To Deal With Difficult Employees as a New Manager. Complaints regarding their negative behavior can lead to harassment and discrimination charges, if they're not handled correctly. 12 common management challenges. Life events, like weddings and divorces, can affect performance for weeks. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. }
Make sure the conversation begins with open dialogue, allowing them the chance to express their experience. The first piece of guidance is simpledon't let staffers become problem employees in the first place. A workplace run by AI is not a futuristic concept. ", Attong also said that company attendance rules are important to emphasize. And if that project were audited, we would be in trouble.. Acts condescendingly. I then enlisted the help of a specialist from the support team to assist me with the technical aspects. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In the beginning, I began contacting the top 10 names on the list. Unhappy employees tend to emit negativity. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){
Managing Difficult Personalities 2. Start by letting them know that you see a change in attitude, and that its having a negative effect on the team. Learn from the Best with the Great Negotiator Case Studies, Teach Your Students to Take Their Mediation Skills to the Next Level, Planning Your Syllabus for Next Semester? Managers confronted with difficult employee behavior should follow procedures and strategies provided by company leaders, executive management, or Human Resources. Sometimes, a difficult employee is simply in the wrong role. Scenario 1: Missed expectations. Managing Communication Problems Please complete the form below to access this research: Please choose an option Staff (Associate/Analyst/etc.) Reward positive behaviors. Outline the expectation for improvement and set a clear goal for them to meet regarding this reform. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Popular Insights, PXT/Select - a division of John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Popular Insights, Inc 214-801-9152 david@popularinsights.com, 3525 Turtle Creek Blvd. They do not need to be time-consuming; a 10-minute informal chat every few weeks or so should suffice, Timmes explained. "Any action that can be interpreted as discriminatory or harassment can lead to a civil action by employees. During the next meeting, he apologized to us for what he had said.. Dont avoid these management challenges; unresolved conflict harms productivity. If certain procedures or policies were breached, a manager should state these, make sure the employee understands and solicit ideas from the worker on how to move forward. Veteran security manager Sam Curry, who is now chief technology and security officer for Burlington, Mass-based software company Arbor Networks, agreed with this emphasis on positive attitude and high emotional intelligence. Another common error, McIntyre said, is when a manager assumes that the employee knows there is a problem. Lost your password? How to Deal with Cultural Differences in Negotiation, Four Ways to Manage Conflict in the Workplace, When Armed with Power in Negotiation, Use It Wisely, Ask A Negotiation Expert: Dealing With Conflict? Are Salary Negotiation Skills Different for Men and Women? Hiring and onboarding are enormous costs for employers when compared to the price of effectively managing existing employees. There's nothing wrong with people with unique . On the contrary, its essential to be aware of the dynamics at play; this way, you can ensure your efforts arent being undercut by someone else. Managing Employees with Bad Attitudes 3. And the effort starts during the hiring process, said Michael Timmes, a senior human resource specialist at Kingwood, Texas-based Insperity, anational human resources service provider. Building a listening environment where employees feedback positive and negative are heard, acknowledged and acted on can create a more positive culture and a happier, more content workforce. More tips on having difficult conversations here. He calmed down as I asked him more questions about each issue. Learning how to manage difficult employees is a necessary skill for any business owner. Even though the worker may be considered a problem employee, a manager-staffer meeting should never have the tone of a parent-child scolding, but rather an adult-to-adult conversation between two intelligent professionals. On the face of it, such a characteristic may not seem problematic. Evaluations typically involve comparisons to others or to a set of standards. We'll start with conciliation and negotiation. Let them know their negative attitude is seen as a performance issue and discuss how this behavior affects the team, productivity, the company and their relationships. If youre required to work long hours or overtime, staying focused and organized is essential. Problem employees. Strike a better balance by beginning with active listening. Some managers, she said, see problems with a staffer's behavior or attitude, get frustrated, but never take concrete actions to address it and the problem becomes worse. Finding yourself in a role with no room for growth or advancement can be disheartening. Additionally, make sure to speak up if you have an opinion that differs from the majority voicing your ideas can lead to more constructive conversations and better outcomes for all involved. "Crises can come in blocks, especially with children and elderly parents, divorces, et cetera," Curry said. Sometimes youre asked to complete a task or project with an overly strict deadline. I decided to meet with him in person to understand him better and hopefully create a more positive working relationship. Upon receiving the first positive response, I continued to get the other people, mentioning the one who had accepted.
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