The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

LEADING DIFFICULT PEOPLE / 145

Offer support and training

over a reasonable timescale.

If there is little improvement,

their future in your team

is limited.

Explore causes in a one-

to-one discussion. If you

have inherited this individual,

you need to release the

burden of all the past broken

promises and build new

trust. Consider counseling.

Listen sympathetically

and arrange time off if you

think this will help solve the

problem. Make sure that you

recognize when the problem

goes beyond your ability and

ask for further help.

Get to know what particularly

motivates each member of

the team. Ask yourself if

you are over- or under-

delegating to the person.

Over-delegation can cause

paralyzing fear of failure.

Team member makes errors

and cannot do the job to

the required standard.

Other team members

become impatient.

Reaching

the limits of

current

capability

Becoming

disengaged

Getting

distracted

Losing

motivation

Rejection of the job;

withdrawal from involvement

with the team. Often caused

by frustration when high

achievers have been held

back over time. Will have

an adverse effect on the

entire team.

Focus moves elsewhere

reducing effectiveness.

The cause is often personal

and while colleagues will

sympathize initially, they

will soon tire of the issue.

Too little or too much

delegation or challenge

in the role can bring about

demotivation and decreased

effectiveness. The individual

can quickly have a negative

effect on team morale.

Why people become difficult

CAUSE EFFECT REMEDY

US_144-145_Leading_difficult_people.indd 145 30/05/16 3:02 pm