Business Education

How to Deal with Employees Who Don’t get Along

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.

Like this article?

Stress Points Entrepreneurs Should Avoid

May 24, 2017 No Comments

Being an entrepreneur means being able to pursue a dream, to fulfill a passion, and to realize your full potential. It’s also a stressful role, even for the most intelligent and resourceful. Though we like to think of stress as just an inconvenient emotion, it can take a substantial toll on your health. It’s linked to heart disease, obesity, depression, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and more adverse health conditions. It’s also one of the most common conditions in starting a new venture or continuing to build a business. However, it doesn’t have to get the best of you. Stress Points Entrepreneurs should Avoid Stress is actually a biological response to certain conditions and situations. It consists of releasing hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, which cause the body to physically and emotionally respond to its environment. In an entrepreneurial role, you’ll have a lot invested, which can include your personal savings, time, and effort. What’s more, you’ll be responsible for managing others. That’s certainly conducive to causing stress and you need to be equipped with the right response to make the right decisions. In the business world, there’s a certain cache attached to being able to soak up all that stress. But people can’t keep putting themselves under a lot of pressure for a long time without consequences. Eventually something’s going to give. —Entrepreneur.com When you’re an employee, you deal with stress but it rises to a whole other level when you are running your own business. After all, it is you that’s “calling the shots,” and you are at the helm of the enterprise. Stop to think about the entire situation and it can be practically paralyzing. You’ll definitely have a lot to deal with when you’re running or starting a business and one of the single biggest challenges to overcome is how you deal with stress. Because of this, you should know the most common stress points and how to cope with them effectively: Capital. Money is essential to business, but there will definitely be times when cash flow is anemic. You should learn to use free and low cost resources when money is lean. For instance, you can pay a freelancer that’s just starting out, or, can take-on a little more personally to keep costs down. Promises. As a business owner, you’ll make promises on a regular basis. When an unexpected event takes shape, it can seriously throw-off your working timeline. When possible, you should rearrange your schedule and revisit your priorities to make good on your promises. Commitments. Alongside promises are your commitments. When starting or running a business, it’s often tempting to fully load your schedule to help build your brand. This can take its toll, so, think about what’s most important and only commit to these. Clients. While clients are the lifeblood of your business, early on, you’ll probably take anyone who comes across your radar. Over the course of running your business, it’s helpful to reexamine which clients are worth the effort and which are making your journey an agonizing proposition. Talent retention. Having talented people on your team is key to success but this comes with a cost. Said cost rises as time goes on and you’ll face one or more moving-on sooner or later. Instead of fretting over the loss, look at it as an opportunity to forge a strategic partnership. Though these are all real and can be large problems, one stress point is particularly painful: the unknown. As the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” That however, is true with just about everything in life. Instead of letting it worry you, look at it as a new opportunity to embrace. Even if you fail at this or that, it serves as a lesson learned which helps to make you a better leader. Remember, we learn far more from our failures than our successes because it’s easier to deconstruct. Want to find out about what a business coach can do for you? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Employees are Quitting Instead of Returning to Work and That’s a Good Thing — Here’s Why

July 9, 2021 No Comments

Leading news organizations continue to report a substantial number of employees are quitting their jobs rather than returning to work. The headlines are stark and alarming. They are also good news. Yes, it’s actually not cause for alarm. Instead, it’s a blessing in disguise, a silver lining to a cloud. Read on to learn why. Quitters Never Win? It’s a cliche, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” But, we all know there are certainly exceptions. Put another way, sometimes quitting is the right choice, the best option, for an employee. Moving on and into something new can prove extraordinarily fortunate and fulfilling. However, it can also reveal qualities that aren’t net positives for businesses. After spending more than a year at home, some don’t want to go back to commuting, preferring the flexibility of remote work at least a few days a week. Others are simply burned out from logging long hours while also balancing child care and remote school, sometimes all at once. And nearly all employees are ready to see what else is out there. —CNBC Practically anyone who chooses to walk away and be part of what’s currently referred to as the “Great Resignation” is doing so for almost entirely personal reasons. And, that could very well point to a deficiency not previously exposed to co-workers, administrators, and owners. This of course being, unwanted characteristics, such as laziness, lack of passion or even interest, and just showing up for a paycheck. All of those are things a business can really do without. 3 Top Employee Qualities On the other side of the equation is the qualities that are the most beneficial to businesses. Companies should always look beyond resumes and take full advantage of the interview process (perhaps even going so far as to an informal interview over lunch or dinner). Here are some of the top qualities good employees naturally exhibit: Strong work ethic. Someone with a strong work ethic will obviously be productive. But also, concerned about the quality of work he or she is producing. But, be careful not to mistake a workaholic or the extreme statistics of the Japanese “karoshi,” people who literally die as a result of overworking. Strong work ethic isn’t the same and will offer a much more well-adjusted person to your team. Enthusiasm for the job. An enthusiastic individual is quite fortunately fairly easy to spot and even more thankfully, easy to distinguish from a phony or fake. (Phonies and fakes often exhibit many telltale signs they are just not genuine.) These people usually speak with zeal and great pleasure about their work. What’s more, will also talk about their work in a very focused yet informal and understandable manner. Team cooperation and collaboration. Place this quality in the “obvious” column, but one that’s definitely worth including. A person who is a true team player tends to be an individual who loves to listen to the input and perspective of others. Also, someone who can follow instructions without a bad or negative attitude, but can just as easily step into a leadership role, yet relinquish control for the good of the company. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a brief moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! You might just help out someone in a profound way. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

How Small Business Owners Can Craft Irresistible Discounts and Sales that Standout from the Competition

October 18, 2023 No Comments

How Small Business Owners Can Craft Irresistible Discounts and Sales that Standout from the Competition In the competitive landscape of modern commerce, offering discounts and sales is a strategic way for small business owners to attract customers and boost sales. However, simply slashing prices is not enough; your discounts and sales need to stand out amidst the sea of offers customers encounter daily. Because of this, it’s necessary to explore the most effective strategies small business owners can use to make their discounts and sales not only noticeable but also irresistible. By implementing these techniques, you can increase closed deals, enhance customer loyalty, and ultimately, drive higher profits for your business. Ways Small Businesses Can Offer Enticing Discounts and Sales that Beat Out Their Competition Discounts and sales are a great way to attract new customers and increase sales. However, with so many businesses offering discounts and sales, it can be difficult to make your offers stand out. Here are a few tips on how to make your discounts and sales stick out over the competition: Offer unique discounts and promotions. Instead of just offering a generic discount, try offering a more unique discount that is relevant to your business and target audience. For example, you could offer a discount for first-time customers, a discount for students or seniors, or a discount for customers who refer their friends. Use creative marketing language. When promoting your discounts and sales, use creative and eye-catching language that will grab attention. For example, you could use phrases like “Limited-time offer!” or “Save big today!” You could also use images and videos to help promote your discounts and sales. Personalize your discounts and promotions. When possible, try to personalize your discounts and promotions for each customer. For instance, you could send customers personalized email offers based on their purchase history or interests. You could also offer discounts and promotions to customers on their birthday or other special occasions. Make it easy for customers to redeem your discounts and promotions. Your discounts and promotions should be easy for customers to redeem. Avoid using complicated codes or restrictions. You should also make sure that your discounts and promotions are prominently displayed on your website and in your store. Also, be sure to track the results of your discounts and promotions. It is important to track the results of your discounts and promotions so that you can see what is working and what is not. This will help you to improve your future discounts and promotions. More Discount Strategies Small Businesses Can Use While these methods are actionable and helpful, there are additional ways to make such offers enticing to new and repeat customers. Here are a few additional tips that can help you increase the number of closed deals and profits from your discounts and sales: Create a sense of urgency. When promoting your discounts and sales, create a sense of urgency by letting customers know that the offer is only available for a limited time. This will encourage customers to act quickly and make a purchase. Use social proof. Social proof is a powerful psychological phenomenon that can influence people’s behavior. When people see that others are taking advantage of your discounts and sales, they are more likely to do the same. You can use social proof by displaying testimonials from satisfied customers on your website and in your store. You can also promote your discounts and sales on social media and encourage customers to share their experiences with their friends and followers. Upsell and cross-sell. When customers are taking advantage of your discounts and sales, it is a great opportunity to upsell and cross-sell them on other products and services. For example, if a customer is buying a new phone, you could upsell them on a case or screen protector. Additionally, you could also cross-sell them on a wireless plan or accessories. By following these tips, you can make your discounts and sales stand out over the competition and increase the number of closed deals and profits. But, take the time to experiment to learn what works most effectively. Chances are there’s a combination that will yield the best results. With a little trial and error, you’ll discover what works and what doesn’t. Right now, you can get John Waters’ latest book for FREE! (Currently selling for $19.95 on Amazon). This inspiring book titled “Profit by Design: The Blueprint to Successfully Scale Your Business and Regain Your Freedom” is a must-read for business owners who want to do just that! Request your FREE copy in any of the following ways: By phone 602-435-5474 Visit Waters Business Consulting Group By email: Steve@WatersBusinessConsulting.com

How to Deal with Employees Who Don’t get Along

Disagreement Can be a Good Thing

How to Deal with Employees Who Don’t get along

Like this article?

Related Posts

Stress Points Entrepreneurs Should Avoid

Employees are Quitting Instead of Returning to Work and That’s a Good Thing — Here’s Why

How Small Business Owners Can Craft Irresistible Discounts and Sales that Standout from the Competition

Imagine Selling Your Business…

How Would Your Life Change?

Thank you for your interest in learning what your business is worth. We will be in touch shortly.