HBR On Leadership

How to Manage an Employee Who Gets on Your Nerves

Nov 20, 2024

Art Markman, a former psychology professor and current Senior Vice Provost at the University of Texas at Austin, shares insights on handling challenging employees. He discusses strategies for managing communication issues, from passive-aggressive behavior to excessive politeness. Markman emphasizes the importance of tailored feedback and active listening to enhance workplace dynamics. He also offers advice on empowering employees to be more assertive, promoting a supportive environment to foster their growth.

37:12

Episode guests

Art Markman

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Engaging with challenging employees through specific feedback can improve team dynamics and encourage personal growth.

Fostering active listening skills among employees enhances communication clarity and reduces misunderstandings during interactions.

Deep dives

Managing Annoying Subordinates

Handling challenging team dynamics is a key aspect of effective leadership. It is essential to recognize that dismissing unlikable employees merely as annoying can prevent constructive communication. Engaging with these individuals and providing specific feedback on their behavior can foster improvement and help them align better with team expectations. Acknowledging the underlying issues, such as social awkwardness versus intentional combative behavior, is crucial for facilitating an open dialogue and encouraging personal growth.

Intro

2min

Navigating Difficult Communication in Leadership

4min

Mastering Meeting Communication

7min

Addressing Interruptions and Social Acknowledgment in the Workplace

3min

Navigating Excessive Politeness in the Workplace

3min

Empowering Assertiveness in Employees

19min

Do you have an employee who just gets on your nerves?

In this episode, Dear HBR cohosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer listener questions with the help of Art Markman, former professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and now the school’s Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

They talk through how to manage someone who is difficult, overly polite, or passive aggressive. Markman also offers advice for how to give your initial feedback and then follow up. He also has tips for coaching an employee who needs to improve their communication skills.

Key episode topics include: leadership, managing people, managing conflicts, difficult conversations.

HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.

· Listen to the original Dear HBR episode: Annoying Subordinates (2018)

· Find more episodes of Dear HBR.

· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.

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HBR On Leadership

How to Manage an Employee Who Gets on Your Nerves

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Managing Annoying Subordinates

Providing Effective Feedback

Building Listening Skills

Empathy and Assertiveness in Leadership

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts