One of the most frustrating things for a business owner that I have observed is when their best employee becomes difficult.
Now there is a real problem because the person who in the past has helped them the most is becoming difficult and they’re faced with what I call a ‘double whammy.’
The help has gone and in its place you have one of your difficult employees!
So how do you stop this occurring and where is the source of this new behaviour?
The chances of stopping someone becoming difficult are very rare for a business owner because in running your business you won’t even notice until you have a problem.
So most of this post is devoted to discovering where the problem came from so you can honestly face up to it.
When people change their behaviour it is normally a result of something changing in their circumstances (environment).
So the first step in dealing with the situation is to determine what environment has brought about the change in behaviour.
Place 1 – Work environment
Often as business owners we can forget the perspective that employees have of our business. It is a place where they work but they rarely have the same attachment as the business owner.
On the other hand it would be incorrect to assume that work environment was not important to employees.
So when you see a change in the behaviour of your best employee the first place to look is whether there is a change in the work environment.
Has there been a new employee hired who has changed the dynamic in your business?
Has there been an employee who has left and this is making your best employees job all the more difficult?
Has there been a change is a major customer of supplier which is bringing different pressures on this employee?
Make sure you consider all the interactions that the employee has with all the stake holders in the business.
Place 2 – Home environment
I’ve often heard business owners instruct their employees to leave their home problems at home when they come to work. While this is good sound advice it is sometimes impossible.
Human beings are unable in stressful circumstances to shut off the pressures that come from their home environment.
Home environments are often more emotional places and can be particularly stressful when the people who you love are causing you grief. The problem with trying to leave these problems at home is that you can do it for a while but the pressure just builds up and up.
Your best employee probably has been trying to leave all the problems at home but if they’re your best employee then likely people at home rely on them for being the best mother or father at home as well.
Suppressing the behaviour means that things are building up and when they come out it can look like a tsunami or atomic explosion which most often arrives completely unexpectedly and make quite a big mess.
Place 3 – Extra curricular environment
The best employees often find their ways into leadership positions at schools, clubs or religious organisations.
Often they are following a passion because they have to find the time to be involved with these organisations.
When things blow up there can be more emotion than even a family environment because the person is dealing with their passion.
This can be as simple as a change in the leadership structure of the club so they feel left out or as difficult as them having to deal with the exact situation at the club that you’re dealing with them.
They had someone who they relied on and now that person is giving them grief.
Where are the places you have discovered issues have emerged from in dealing with your best employee?
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