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EP 57:

EP 57: Confronting the Unseen: Managing Employee Behavior You Haven’t Witnessed

24:32

min

Q&A Episode

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In This Episode

How do you confront an employee about toxic behavior when you’ve never seen it firsthand but keep hearing about it from others?

In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson explains how leaders can address unprofessional behavior reported by others, even if they haven’t witnessed it themselves. She advises believing trusted reports, confronting the employee directly, and acknowledging that while the behavior wasn’t seen, it is credible. Dr. Thompson warns of challenges like defensiveness or distractions during the conversation and suggests notifying HR beforehand to stay prepared. Leaders should focus on the employee’s behavior without getting sidetracked and ask open-ended questions to encourage a response. Ultimately, she stresses the importance of addressing disruptive behaviors promptly to maintain a respectful workplace and set clear expectations.

Tune in and discover practical strategies for addressing hidden workplace issues and managing difficult conversations with employees!

What You'll Learn
  • Leaders can effectively address unprofessional behavior by trusting credible employee reports, even if they haven’t witnessed it firsthand.
  • Difficult conversations should be approached confidently, acknowledging that the behavior hasn’t been observed firsthand but is believed to be accurate based on multiple reports.
  • Defensive or distracting tactics from the employee are common, and leaders need to stay focused on the issue at hand.
  • Notifying HR before confronting the employee helps prevent potential complaints or misunderstandings after the conversation.
  • Timely feedback, ideally within 72 hours, ensures clarity and accuracy when addressing incidents.
  • Some behaviors may indicate more profound character flaws that warrant serious action, while others can be resolved through coaching and guidance.
Links & Resources

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Host & Guest

Dr. Renee Thompson

DNP, RN, FAONL, FAAN · CEO & Founder, HWI

A leading authority on creating healthy work cultures by eliminating bullying and incivility in healthcare, with 31+ years of clinical and executive experience. One of only 30 nurses worldwide to earn the Certified Speaking Professional designation.

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