Honest Discussion

I had a  team member once that just ‘didn’t get it,’ staff from other departments complaining about the attitude. I just looked at this person and saw a happy family person, family was vital to them. They were trying hard to raise their family. I liked that. Calls were made for them to be removed from the company. I resisted.

Instead I took them for a walk one day, through the streets and ended up in a park. We sat down and we both agreed to have an open and honest discussion. I told them of their failings, but that I still loved them! They were totally oblivious to those failings. They were angry but appreciated my honesty. I told them to go away and think about what I had said and we would catch up in a couple of days to continue the conversation.

Next morning the person was waiting for me at the front door of the office. Asked me to go back to the park bench. They told me they had spoken to their mum the night before. They were very close to their mum, they had utmost respect for their mum. The mum after carefully thinking (They told me their mum had been silent after hearing the account of our conversation!), had totally agreed with what I had said!

They went on to tell me how a lightbulb had been switched on, they had looked back on previous jobs where others were against them and it was unfair. On reflection they realised, no, it was them that was at fault. They could see what their attitude had caused, why they had an attitude in the first place and how they could resolve that bad attitude and look at life differently.

We continued to work closely together and making things better. Quite quickly I had staff from other departments asking me what I had done to this person, how there was such a massive change. They were a joy to interact with now. With the new outlook and attitude they flourished in their role and  went on that year to have a nice pay rise and bonus. Good on them.

I was so happy for them. They were so happy. They now work for a very large Insurer and continues to go from strength to strength. (I keep an eye on them!)

I am still proud of them. People can change if someone is prepared to have a open, honest, empathetic chat with someone, but is also prepared to tell and hear some ugly truths.