Have you encountered a difficult employee? Well, "difficult" is a broad category so allow me to qualify it further. Have you encountered prima donna employees? Just take a look around, you might be seating beside one now! Prima donna employees can pull down morale and productivity. Dealing with difficult people day in and day out can drive anyone insane.Aloka Ultrasonic Probe More importantly, it can derail the corporate culture that once made your company thrive.

Corporate culture goes beyond what you put in your company profile and slogans. One facet of company success is about corporate culture at its best. But then again there are employees who just ruin everything. One such nuisance are prima donna employees. Have you seen them around?

1. Showboating, grandstanding and all related termsWho doesn't want their 15 minutes of fame? But these special employees don't want just 15 minutes, they want the whole show. WED Ultrasound Probe When given the chance they'd want the whole TV series and not just a special appearance. Employees like these are not hard to spot. Just start a conversation and they will pounce on it even when they're at the opposite end of the room. It's like they have built in radar for grandstanding opportunities.

But some clarifications must be made. First, there are those who can draw the crowd with minimal effort because they have something useful to say. Also, there are those who command respect when they speak that everyone seems to shut up for no apparent reason other than the person is speaking. No, it's not these people who I am referring to. It is the ones that who desperately require the attention of people without reason. It's like they will die if they don't grab the limelight. There might be times you hoped they did.

I'm sure you've seen them around. Perhaps you're encountering them too often than you want.

2. Constant complainer   from company policies to the air fresher usedIt is one thing to complain about certain company policies but it is another to simply let out a barrage of nasty words about almost anything. I used to have a co worker who seems to complain about everything. To say that he was irritating was a huge understatement. It's too hot, it's too cold, the floor is too slippery, the floor is too stickythe rants just keep on coming!

Being opinionated about issues is one thing. But finding fault at everything even the mundane is another. There were times when I simply saw this co worker as psychologically disturbed. Although he is not, many shared my sentiment.

3. It's sad to fathom that there are 30 year old "professionals" who still act like pre school students. What's even irritating is when they whine about what they have when they see what you have. Grow up! If it weren't for laws against man slaughter, I bet you'd gladly extinguish his existence.

Whether it is insecurities or some other deeper pathological reason, people who unceasingly compare can strain relationship   to say the least. Worse, they simply build a negative view of their world.

4. Always right attitudeOne more irritating behavior of some employees is the All Knowing Syndrome. There are people who pretend to know everything. Moreover, they say it as if it is biblical truth. More than this, they will not concede to anyone even if they are downright wrong. Dealing with difficult people like these takes so much restraint and can be stressful.

Another variation of this is the don't blame kind of person. These people seem to think of themselves as immaculate. Everything that goes wrong is because of someone else and not them. What's annoying (and equally fascinating at times) is their ability to find a fall guy for their own mistakes. Their lack of accountability is just overwhelming!

What to doThese problems with human resources is vital in maintaining a sane workforce. Unless you want bloodshed on a Monday morning, the company has to do something immediately. Knowing how to deal with difficult employees is definitely a must.

Before you try stabbing your co worker with a freshly sharpened pencil, try doing some detective work first. Learn what prompts the employee to exhibit such behavior. Whether it's some kind of Freudian reason or some other deep seated kinks there is always a reason.

You can probe but do it in a non threatening and non aggressive way. Otherwise, you run the risk of a defensive mode or worse a sharp pencil stratigically inserted into your neck. Inquiring about a person can be personal so know your boundaries.

It is when you know the root cause that dealing with difficult employees become easier.

Problems with human resources are often dealt with reprimands and sanctions. But before you flail out that incident report form try a less aggressive way. Performance coaching and interpersonal relationship counseling can correct behaviors. But the hurdle here is getting the person to admit they have an annoying habit. Whether it's simply being dense or just denial, it's one hurdle you have to jump over.

Remember, most of these people don't even know that they have an irritating behavior. Worse, they might even think it's you who have issues to resolve.

Productivity must be maintained thus checking the employees' workload is necessary. Many individuals resort to deviant behaviors because of the amount of their work load. This can work both ways! Some find their jobs too boring or too easy. On the other hand, some may find their work to be stressful. Providing the right workload and the appropriate task will help improve the work attitude of people.

The amount and type of activities you give to a dysfunctional employee is directly proportional to the sanity of the rest of the office. So instead of dishing out too much or too few tasks, consider the person first.

Whatever you are planning do it quickly. Waiting or hoping that everything will turn out for the better is a passive move that can be disastrous. Although it might not result in a murder, productivity can drop. Also, office relationships can have strains that may be irreparable. In worse cases, you might lose quality employees and end up with the ranting, showboating, know it all who is neither productive nor efficient.

Diffuse the situation before it gets out of hand. If you don't deal with difficult employees immediately, you can breed the wrong corporate culture.

If you don't deal with their behavior, you will give up a lot of your productive time. The employee will also feel out of control and they will negatively influence the rest of your team. When you start noticing the constant demanding behavior, I would suggest that you handle it immediately.

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