https://cruciallearning.com/blog/qa-above-and-beyond-how-to-deal-with-a-strong-willed-employee/ VitalSmarts is now Crucial Learning Thu, 21 May 2015 18:18:17 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://cruciallearning.com/blog/qa-above-and-beyond-how-to-deal-with-a-strong-willed-employee/#comment-3359 Thu, 21 May 2015 18:18:17 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=5184#comment-3359 Why would an employee commit himself to “unnecessary and excessive overtime” if he doesn’t get paid for it?? Surely he feels that the activities performed in the overtime are essential to keeping the client/customer happy. Sounds like the problem is with the manager and not the employee.

]]> https://cruciallearning.com/blog/qa-above-and-beyond-how-to-deal-with-a-strong-willed-employee/#comment-3358 Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:25:38 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=5184#comment-3358 I am sure he likes the revenue, however my impression was that he felt it was possible to do without the need for the overtime situation.

]]> https://cruciallearning.com/blog/qa-above-and-beyond-how-to-deal-with-a-strong-willed-employee/#comment-3357 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 20:07:52 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=5184#comment-3357 The thing that stood out to me is that the work “brings in substantial revenue to the company”. Strange that the manager doesn’t like that.

]]> https://cruciallearning.com/blog/qa-above-and-beyond-how-to-deal-with-a-strong-willed-employee/#comment-3356 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 02:07:17 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=5184#comment-3356 The comment “…sometimes intentionally making commitments that lead to unnecessary and excessive overtime…” jumps out at me. If the “hero” is intentionally making such commitments, and he actually understands the company policy, then there’s something going on in his mind that Mr. Pickle could explore.
Taking a page from the Vital Smarts books, he might ask “help me understand your thinking, or why you think this action is more important than sticking with company policy”. It may be that Mr. Pickle is being too narrow-minded about strict conforming behavior, and risking the loss of a customer relationship opportunity. How does Mr. Pickle know that the overtime commitment is “unnecessary” or “excessive” without asking for more information?
Once Mr. Pickle takes the opening purpose and safety steps, he might get a different perspective from the “hero” and he might be motivated to defend the exception to policy to his superiors.
Steven has a valid point that the significant revenue generated by this non-conforming, and high-performing person may be cause to examine the policies, and the work environment rather than slowing him down.

]]> https://cruciallearning.com/blog/qa-above-and-beyond-how-to-deal-with-a-strong-willed-employee/#comment-3355 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:12:40 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=5184#comment-3355 To me, the employee sounds like a racehorse in a draft horse stable. Nothing wrong with being either one, but the two don’t always work together well. Eventually, the racehorse gets branded as a loose cannon and becomes impatient with the slower pace of others. Reining in a racehorse wastes its best talents, which is a shame. A person who can work effectively at a fast pace is often viewed as a threat by other employees. If they can perform the work independently, why not let them run? If they bring in significantly more revenue each year, let a bonus be the reward. If they burn out…maybe it’s time for the pasture.

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