SPONSORED BY
Episode 19 | Dealing with Difficult People Can Be Messy
In this episode of the Messy Back-End of Entrepreneurship, our Expert, Lindsay Hale, Entrepreneur, shares how to deal with teams or employees in a way that will keep them motivated and happy.
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain
Often we can’t choose the types of people coming in and out of our business, so we have to learn how to deal with all kinds of personalities. There are people from different backgrounds, people who are easy to deal with and motivated, and some who are not motivated at all.
When you create a culture where people are not allowed to be difficult it really helps the situation.
How do you create a positive culture?
Create a space where your team can share their opinions in a positive constructive manner with expectations laid out. This could be a monthly team meeting. At the team meeting they can bring any of their problems, but they are expected to bring a solution as well. When you lay that expectation out upfront you are saying I want to listen to you and hear you. This isn’t a place to complain. It is a place to solve problems. It is important to give them a voice.
If you give team members a chance to come into a safe environment once a month to help solve problems it helps them to feel valued as well.
She also touches base with her team leaders every Monday to see what their plans are for the week and share celebrations.
The key is that we are empowering them to create solutions and be positive.
What do you do if you have difficult people on your team?
Look at your team as an investment. Invest in people personally not just in business.
Check out Lindsay’s book Lifted to learn how to replace fear, obligation, and guilt with forgiveness, opportunity, and grace.
Give people the opportunity to shine. Start by figuring out what your team members are great at. This can be done with any of the many personality tests available. Find opportunities to use those great qualities they have and bring out the best in them. This can have a huge impact and help to change their mindset as well. It also helps us to be more effective in our communication with them.
Treat people the way you want to be treated.
It is very important to know the people we work with, encourage them to be positive, and encouraging them to find solutions in situations where they may not feel like they have the power.
