my worker identifies proudly as a grump
A reader writes:
I handle a small staff of artistic folks and all of us have totally different work types (as outlined throughout a company-wide skilled development workshop.)
One staff member has so strongly recognized together with her extra aggressive and direct work type that I discover she is utilizing it as a crutch to excuse unhealthy habits like having a adverse perspective about her work or being brief or dismissive of coworkers. “Properly, that’s simply me. I’m a grump, everybody is aware of that’s my work type!” she’ll say in a light-hearted means.
We’ve an off-the-cuff office and I’m pleasant with my staff, however I’m discovering it troublesome to information her to be extra constructive with out it coming throughout like, “Don’t be your self!” or like I’m critiquing her character as an alternative of it being a couple of work concern.
I’ve tried to curb this habits by saying, “No, we don’t see you that means” when she self-identifies as being a adverse individual/grumpy/“unhealthy with folks.” I’ve praised her when she handles conditions the best way I might anticipate (with a collaborative spirit and openness).
My largest concern is how that is impacting her work and the way she interacts with the remainder of the staff. She has expressed curiosity to me in being promoted and taking up extra duty with extra artistic freedom, however when I’ve introduced alternatives to her to take possession and have extra space for creativity, she has reacted negatively each via her physique language (actually frowning and scowling in conferences) and thru her commentary and a whole lot of self doubt and usually defeatist perspective).
I need her to really feel supported and I don’t need her to really feel like I’m selecting on her for what she has embraced as a character trait however I’m hitting a wall.
I reply this query over at Inc. right this moment, the place I’m revisiting letters which were buried within the archives right here from years in the past (and generally updating/increasing my solutions to them). You can learn it right here.
