We’ve all experienced it
It is safe to say that we have all encountered a difficult colleague in some form or another. Dealing with difficult employees can be a hard to approach to improve the situation. It is so important for companies that colleagues gel with each other as it will play a huge impact on employee wellness. It is vital as it affects the overall productivity level within the company. It is also very important for the employees’ sense of fulfillment and happiness in work.
Dealing with difficult people at work can be tricky for managers and leaders in companies. It is very important to know how to deal with conflicts and address them in an appropriate manner. Experts in this field have estimated that between 60% and 80% of reported difficulties at work are caused by strained relationships with co-workers.
Managers and team leaders must understand that they can’t control how other people act but then can control how they respond to the employee’s behaviour.
Here are some tips you can take on board when dealing with difficult people in the workplace.
1. Try to listen and understand your co-workers’ issue fully
When you are in this predicament, try your best to put yourself in your co-workers’ shoes and try to compromise with them as much as you can. Some simple tips are to clarify any queries you may have, maintain eye contact and mirror their body language to make them feel more comfortable
2. Be sure to have rules in place on how you would like to be treated
This can be as simple as having a discussion with your employee in private rather than in front of everyone else in the office.
3. Remain calm
When dealing with difficult people in work, the worse thing you can do is lose your temper. Try to breathe and take a moment away from everyone if you need to calm down. Many managers say they have learned the skill of managing their emotions in times of stressful situations and to remain calm when resolving issues with co-workers.
4. Get some perspective from others
Explaining your situation to others, they will be able to see the situation from a different angle and offer other solutions for the situation. You might discover some advice that will be helpful to you.
5. Respect
Even if you may not see eye to eye with a co-worker, having respect for them is still so important. If you are going to treat the person with disrespect, it will not help in resolving the conflict between both of you.
6. Report to a higher authority
If you feel you have tried everything to resolve this conflict, it may be time to report this to your manager. This is usually the last resort but if nothing else has worked, this could be the best option to get the situation dealt with, so you can move on and enjoy your working environment again.
It is not ideal or pleasant working with someone who is making your working life difficult. You should not have to dread coming in to work and have a difficult situation on your hands daily and your employee wellness will see a decrease also. There is always some way that you can resolve it and by trying these steps, hopefully something positive can come out of a negative and difficult situation.
We cover topics like this in our workplace wellness workshops. Have a look to see if any jump out at you or your suit your company’s needs. You can also get in touch with us for any specific requirements in a workshop.
