What Happens When You Don’t Like an Employee?

Mad at Each Other

There is no written rule that you have to like everyone you work with, but as a manager it is critical that you are able to look past personality differences to get the best out of performance. What happens when you don’t actually like an employee? Your first reaction could be to remove the problem from the situation, and you aren’t going to be the first choice to leave the organization. Before you decide to fire them, consider the ways you can alter your perception and work with this disliked employee.

Find a solution.

While the workday is easier to get through if you like the people around you, there will be times when this isn’t possible. The first thing you can do is work on a finding a solution to the problem. Are they having productivity issues? Offer more training. Do they distract coworkers? Place them in another area of the building. Remove emotion from the situation and think how about you can help this employee enjoy their job more.

Utilize their strengths.

Even if you don’t like them, they must have some redeeming qualities. Maybe you haven’t tapped into their best work yet. What do they excel at in the office? What do they like to do? Find out how you can use your skills to your company’s advantage instead of just being frustrated by your interactions with them every day. Setting someone up to succeed by taking advantage of their strengths will work better for everyone and the company.

Talk to them.

Sometimes, when you dislike someone, it comes down to not completely understanding them as a person or their motivations. Make an extra effort to talk to and get to know the employee you don’t like. You may be surprised to find out interesting facts about them or realize that you may have a few things in common. There also could be personal issues affecting their daily behavior at work. While you need to tread lightly in these situations, it can be eye-opening to realize everyone’s personal life isn’t perfect.

Change your reactions.

If there is one universal truth in life it is that you can’t change someone else’s behavior, but you can change your reaction. Think about why this person rubs you the wrong way. What can you do on a daily basis to change how you respond to them? You may find that if you approach the situation differently things may start to even out. Altering behavior takes time, and you will regress at times, but working toward these changes can prove beneficial in the short term and long term.

A locally-owned, leading staffing agency in the DFW area since 1991, CornerStone features 25 years of experience in working with companies. Through constant communication with HR directors, managers and supervisors, we are constantly striving to meet our clients’ staffing and recruiting needs. Contact our great team today!
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