Difficult employees make superiors and colleagues desperate. One would like to get rid of them, but that is only possible in the rarest of cases. Sensitive communication can help – and, if necessary, consistent action.
When Henriette Braun talks about one of her employees, you can feel her indignation. “She is said to be extremely busy all the time and believes she will save the company,” says Braun. “She doesn’t even do her own tasks, but what she likes to do best.” Braun is a department head in the pharmaceutical industry and leads a team of 15. The difficult colleague worries her: “She messes up the whole team and messes up all structures. She feels attacked when criticized because she only means well.”