At times, an employee may irritate you, slow you down, and their presence can begin to weigh far more than it should, especially when they are an employee representative. This is often when the situation starts to escalate.
The reflex is human: you want it to change. You want this person to behave differently, to understand, to adapt… or to no longer be there. You start to resist.
But resistance creates tension. And tension spreads. It is felt. Your team picks up on it. And gradually, it adds to the situation.
When a Difficult Employee Becomes a Problem
At that point, what was simply a situation becomes a problem.
Yet what you see is only part of the picture. Behind every behavior, there is a logic. Not yours, because you are not that person, but a logic that is there, whether you see it or not.
This person operates from their own frame of reference, their history, their emotions, and their interpretation of what’s happening. Everything they say or do has a reason. It may be a lack of confidence or a need for recognition.
Understanding this does not mean agreeing. It means stepping back.
Staying Grounded with a Difficult Employee
The moment you understand what is at play, your perspective shifts. You are no longer reacting, you regain control. You stop feeding the thoughts that sustain the irritation you feel.
By understanding where the other person is coming from, you adjust how you show up.
You make clearer, more balanced decisions, without investing more energy than necessary. And from that place, the situation naturally loses its grip.
The person is left with their behavior. It no longer spreads through the team. And your team relies on what you bring: stability.
This is exactly where your role lies.
The more grounded you are in yours, the less you are impacted by others.
🎧 To go further, listen to Episode 69 of the French podcast – Managing a Difficult Employee
If you’d like to step back, understand what’s really happening, and adjust your posture, I can support you.
Book a call.
Stephanie Romeo
Executive Coach
Creator of the KAL™ Method
Host of the podcast 3 Minutes pour tout changer
