Hey Supervisor, Are You Good at "Managing" Employee Personalities?

Dealing with difficult employees can be very challenging when the problem has more to do with character flaws than with actual work. Negative personality traits can be very counterproductive, yet cannot be trained out of a person.

 

Employees with negative personality traits annoy their fellow workers and supervisors, but they usually are not in violation of company policies. Therefore, disciplinary measures are inappropriate, at best.

           

Managers are always challenged with crafting new strategies to help team members cope when personality issues. Two of the most annoying personality types are the “chronic complainers” and the “know-it-all’s.” Each one can have a negative effect on productivity when improperly managed. Although supervisors cannot change an employee’s personality, they can re-frame the work environment to bring out the best of the worst offenders.  Click here to learn more about "managing" personalities.