Incessant Complainers
Incessant Complainers. Do you have this type of employee in your organization?
Characteristics: Non-stop complaining about the company, the working environment, colleagues and customers; does not see problems as opportunities to improve a situation. Complains about things but walks away when called to take up the challenge to change things for better.
Traits to look out for: Low willingness to take up challenges. Has a very strong mindset of what things “ought to be”. Low or moderate technical competencies to perform the job and has a weak desire to improve oneself by taking the necessary actions to learn new skills and adopt a mindset shift to address issues constructively.
Negative side: Does not act on constructive feedback; may tire out managers through the recurring need to reinforce the same messages time and time again. Extreme cases – Does not hold personal accountability and fails to deliver results within own area of responsibility.
How to manage: If the situation is beyond redemption and management is prepared for possible casualties (i.e. the employee leaves), conduct a one-on-one session and tell the problem employee as it is.
The approach must be professional, fact-based and objective, but most importantly explain how his behavior affects productivity, team performance and the company’s overall performance.
In addition, conducting a team dynamics session where others are allowed to give on-the-spot feedback to this problem employee will also be a last resort to create a strong wake-up call. If nothing works, in extreme cases, it’s time to manage out the problem.
While this personality type may already be walking around your organization – and causing stress on the company’s time and resources –it’s important for organizations to take measures to avoid future costly mistakes. And this is where a strategic HR manager comes in; as opposed to an operational HR manager who focuses on processes and compliance, a strategic HR manager looks at the bigger picture in the organization, and focuses on the best strategies and tactics on how to curb toxic behaviors within the organization.
Traditional hiring techniques may not avoid hire of Incessant Complainers. Using Harrison Assessments can help you avoid hiring or help you manage the Complainer who is already working for your company. A comprehensive behavioral assessment, Harrison provides insight into both positive and negative work place preferences and reveals imbalances in interpersonal traits that may raise red flags prior to hiring. For employee development, it provides developmental reports that facilitate both the operational supervisor and HR or learning professional in coaching employees. Helping employees recognize their negative or counter-productive behavioral preferences that lead to relationship and performance problems facilitates more effective coaching and lasting behavioral change. It is a win-win for employees and the organization to avoid problem hires and help existing employees focus on improving behaviors that derail relationships and performance.
Dawson Consulting Group is a Harrison Assessments Solutions Partner.
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