ABC’s for Addressing Employee Struggles

Are you tired of having the SAME issues with the SAME employees?  

Noticing two workers struggle with each other over and over again? or notice one colleague dominates meetings? These impact morale, productivity, relationships, and the bottom line. Remember, these folks are neither bad nor wrong. They are simply attempting to meet their own needs and may not even notice their impact. 

Now, how do address the issue? Check out the ABC’s for addressing employee struggles to help you and your organization: 

  1. Accentuate the positive~ Before approaching the conversation, create a list of the employee’s positive qualities. Their leadership, passion, and independent thinking certainly benefit the organization. Be aware of the energy that you bring to the conversation. Are you showing up with dread, or demonstrating appreciation along inspiration to create an even stronger team? 
  1. Bring Value Clarity~ When approaching the employee 1:1, know the organizational values, your values, and be open to learning and understanding the individual’s values. Remember their needs are at play here too. Be curious about where everyone’s values align as well as where the employee’s (or your own) actions may not align with the values. 
  1. Consider options~ Ask for ideas on how to maintain the values, as well as the importance of morale, productivity, relationships, and the company’s overall success. Be prepared to suggest your own ideas to the team member. (i.e. What if you only speak up after 2 or 3 other people have spoken, or notice who has not spoken and invite their thoughts and ideas before sharing your own?) 

When business and organizational conflict happens, addressing it may even lead to a stronger team and better business. When I work with human resources, people typically tell me their biggest needs in their organizations include: appreciation, clarity, freedom, purpose, respect, and support.

Be sure to acknowledge employees, colleagues, or supervisors. Regular gratitude goes a long way in helping feel seen and understood.  Leaning in with some clarity, compassion, and curiosity about the underlying needs helps you align with your personal and organizational vision.

You do not have to handle conflict on your own. If you would like help engaging in conversations or resolving conflicts, contact Bruckner Mediation for coaching, mediation, or training.  

Sherry Ann Bruckner

Sherry Ann Bruckner

Most widely known as Lonzo's human, mediator, speaker, and author Sherry Ann Bruckner works with leaders and organizations to create peace, resolve conflict, and transform visions into results.

From her twenty-plus years' experience practicing civil and family law, and her own personal experiences with silence and violence, Sherry Ann understands how much inner peace impacts outer peace. A graduate of Hamline University's College of Liberal Arts and William Mitchell College of Law, she also studied conflict resolution at Rothberg International School in Jerusalem. Sherry serves as a neutral on matters ranging from bias and employment discrimination to marriage dissolution and caring for aging parents. A speaker and trainer on the global stage, Sherry gives you and your audience practical skills and the confidence to use embrace your personal power to create peace. Through helping thousands of people navigate their way through conflict, and finding her own way to inner peace, she shares the transformational power of clarity, compassion, curiosity, and cribbage.

Visit brucknermediation.com/services to learn more or give her a call at (320) 808-3212.
Sherry Ann Bruckner

Be gentle with you. Be gentle with all. Be the peace.

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