You may have some terrific employees who always deliver on their promises and go above and beyond expectations. They intuitively know where to pick up on certain projects and how to get the job done right. You wish that all your employees delivered the same high quality work, but you’re content that you have enough to really help make your company stand out. There’s just one problem — they don’t get along. It’s a real shame, because when teamed up, they ostensibly could do so much more. However, putting them together in the same room sets off a series of bickering and arguments and the whole thing becomes counterproductive. So, how do you deal with employees who don’t get along but are otherwise great assets to your company? Disagreement Can be a Good Thing While you’d like everyone to get along and work in harmony, you’ve got to remember that differences of opinion can be quite helpful. Call it devil’s advocate or thinking outside the box, but whatever it is, it can help you see certain things you would not otherwise consider. After all, different perspectives can help stir creativity and lean to solutions that you wouldn’t have thought of before. Managers face a sticky problem when confronted with two adults in the same office who won’t get along. The tension between the two employees affects their work as well as the work of others in close proximity to their conflict. Employees become stressed because just coming into the office feels uncomfortable. —The Balance Careers Disagreement can even lead to resolving issues that previously could not be solved. Sometimes, revisiting old problems can help people see others points of view and they become friends as a result, with a good working relationship. Of course, this magical moment doesn’t always happen, and it’s much more common than employees hold on to their differences instead of putting them aside to work together without strife. How to Deal with Employees Who Don’t get along The one thing you can’t do is ignore it and let the conflict fester. It will only worsen and that will eventually cause it to spread to other people. It could easily destroy company-wide morale. So, deal with it right away, by doing the following: Meet one-on-one. This is a great way to learn about the conflict from each person’s perspective. It will also give you a sense of where each individual is coming from. Plus, it will help you identify the real source of the problem. Meet together. After you have a better understanding of what’s going on, then you can meet together. Then, take the time to go over what each said to you separately and ask if what you recapped is a fair assessment. If so, you can work out one or more solutions. Follow-up regularly thereafter. Of course, you can’t just assume that will fix the situation for good. You’ll need to follow-up with both parties and do so routinely (at least for the foreseeable future). Be prepared to take additional action. It’s quite possible you’ll need to take more action. (It could even result in dismissing one or both of them. Or, some form of discipline, if necessary.) Should you need to devote more time, then it is definitely worth asking yourself if it’s worthwhile or descending into an unnecessary distraction. What other suggestions do you have for dealing with employees who don’t get along? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences by commenting and giving others something to consider. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

So, you offered a superstar an employment opportunity and that person ultimately turned the offer down – much to your surprise. Now, you’re wondering why this happened. And, more importantly, how you can prevent the same from happening all over again. After all, repeating the whole process over and over will probably just produce the same disappointing results. With this in mind, it’s best to know the most plausible reasons top job candidates turn down employment offers. Top Reasons Job Candidates Turn Down Work Offers Let’s start with the most obvious: the compensation isn’t competitive. When was the last time you actually took the time to look at the latest compensation rates for your open positions? If you haven’t done this in quite some time, it’s definitely time to do so now. Another top reason is the benefits aren’t enticing enough – they simply aren’t adequate. Have you ever felt really good about a candidate? You thought it was a perfect match and couldn’t wait to have them on your team. You made your absolute best offer … only to have them turn it down. This may have led you to settle for your second, third, or even fourth choice candidate. You might find yourself wondering, what makes someone go through the trouble of applying, interviewing, etc., only to say no once the job is offered? What is it those job seekers want? —CareerPlug Again, if the benefits you’re offering aren’t in line with others in your industry, that’s a red flag. You need to give your benefits package a reexamination right away. Of course, another top reason is the interview process didn’t go well. You need to deconstruct how you vet candidates and make the necessary changes. Also, be sure to reassess who does the interviewing – maybe there’s a change needed there, too. Other Common Factors that Cause Job Candidates to Decline Offers Obviously, if the culprits aren’t compensation, benefits, or the interview process, the explanation must lie elsewhere. So, here are some more possibilities as to why you were turned down: The position really isn’t a good fit. It could be the candidate thought he or she was going for one position and it turned out to be something different. Or, that your company culture isn’t a good fit with his or her personality. Be sure you’re accurately describing the position and it isn’t in any way misleading. Too many negative online reviews. You might care deeply about online reviews. Or, might be a bit ambivalent about online reviews. Regardless of your disposition, it could very well have a detrimental impact on a potential hire. It’s obviously not enough to check your company’s reviews but to respond professionally. There’s a poor work-life balance. If you’re the type of employer who demands people give their all and are always available, you’re asking way too much. What’s more, anyone who has a home life won’t find it appealing to work for your company. Sure, there will be some candidates who like and thrive in these types of environments, but probably a lot fewer than those who place great importance on a sound work-life balance. What other reasons would you say would contribute to a job candidate turning an employment offer down? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

No manager or business owner sets out to sabotage their employees. But, that’s sometimes the end result, brought on by a number of different behaviors. For instance, it’s well known that holding unnecessary meetings is a great way to agitate and irk team members. After all, they know superfluousness when they’re unwillingly subjected to it. So, it only serves to bother and anger people. But, that’s not the only way entrepreneurs and managers alike aggravate and annoy employees, there are others. Employees’ Needs are Important Your employees’ needs must be met in order for them to respect you. That doesn’t mean giving them everything they want. But, it does mean treating them the same way you’d want to be treated if you were in their shoes. For instance, unclear communication. Being unclear is just as bad as being unkind. Without clarity, you’re not providing ample direction and that is a real source of frustration for your employees. Toxic company culture often starts at the top in the active bad behavior of a senior leader or by those who have supervisory responsibilities. To get the root of the problem follow the toxicity wherever it leads because people don’t leave companies, they leave managers. —Entrepreneur.com Conversely, there’s also such a thing as providing too much detail. It’s the true-life version of drinking from a fire hose. You’re providing way too much information to process. This inevitably results in bewilderment and/or confusion. Unsurprisingly, employees don’t really understand the overall picture because you’re losing them in the minutia. 3 Sure-Fire Ways to Exhaust and Infuriate Good Employees Although the above examples are ways to run down employee morale, three other behaviors will outright cause them to sour. Here are the three ways that entrepreneurs and managers effectively ruin their teams: Micromanaging. This is probably the most hated and counterproductive managerial trait of them all. By not giving people their independence and autonomy, you are disrespecting them. Plus, this stifles them intellectually and creatively. Moreover, it results in feeling unappreciated and resentment builds. In short, there’s nothing good that comes from micromanaging. Making too many changes. While change can be a good thing, and sometimes it’s absolutely necessary, too many changes will only cause chaos. Employees will lose track of what is acceptable and what’s not and will eventually fail to recall the latest policies and procedures and even goals. Being indecisive and too emotional. When you lead with enthusiasm and vision, that’s a great way to get your team members excited. But, If you lead by raw emotion only and worse yet, can’t make a decision at critical moments, you’ve clearly demonstrated your not cut out for a role in leadership. Yes, there will be difficult decisions and times when emotions will run high or low, but you have to stay calm and avoid rash decisions. Or, failing to make any decisions whatsoever. What other managerial behaviors do you think irritate and/or undermine employees? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.