There are a lot of different ways to accomplish great work. So as a leader you have to be aware that not every employee will do things the same way. Many won’t do things just as you do them. So your right way might not be the right way for each person.
But let’s say that an employee is struggling with something. Maybe they have a negative attitude in the workplace. Maybe they lack confidence that is necessary to perform the job well. There could be a number of things with a person’s behavior that can lead to negative work. Not just for them, but for the entire team.
If you’ve ever been in a situation like this, though, you know that it’s not easy to get someone to change their behavior.
Here are some things that might help.
1. Think Long-Term
Yelling. Getting angry. Getting frustrated. Calling someone out in front of others. These can work to motivate someone to change their behavior. But usually it only works for a short amount of time. And there are many potential downsides for this type of behavior.
It can damage the relationship. It can damage other relationships if other employees see the way you’re treating the team. It can lead to difficulty in hiring if word gets around that you’re this type of leader.
Think about the long-term when it comes to an employee. For any solution you want to try not to get stressed in the moment even if it’s critical. Try to see if there is a way to change behavior for the long-term so that difficult moments start occurring less and less over time.
2. Sit Down And Ask Questions
Perhaps the best thing to do is to sit with the employee and ask them questions. Try not to interject with your thoughts unless they begin asking. Usually they will want to share what they feel might be causing the behavior. They may not see the issue, but after discussing maybe they will begin to understand.
It might be that the person hasn’t felt heard in the workplace. Maybe they are confused about what is expected of them at the job. Maybe it is that they are lacking confidence and aren’t sure how to build that confidence without some kind of assistance.
There could be a number of things. Try to not anticipate what is going on. Just ask questions and listen and learn from the answers.
3. Discuss What They Want For Their Future
It’s important to try to discuss what the person wants. What do they want from the job. What do they want from their career. Get them discussing their future. Usually from this you can begin to create a plan within the company that can get them heading in the right direction. You can explain why certain behavior may not work for them to achieve their goals. Maybe there is some type of compromise on the behavior that can work for you and for them.
Poor behavior often results from thinking about the past and presenting it in the future. Maybe the person felt slighted at work and feels they haven’t been heard. The behavior might be a way for them to try to get your attention. Now that they have it, it can be a good time to see if it makes sense to continue working together.
Conclusion
It may come to the point where you feel the person isn’t a good fit for the company. It’s at least worth the discussion. You can learn what might be causing the behavior issue. You can learn what the person wants from their job and for their life. This should give you the information you need in terms of working with the person or deciding if it’s best to part ways.
Either way, though, the situation should change for the positive.