This week I offered two workshops on correcting High-Maintenance Behavior. The real surprise for me is how many questions were put forth about High-Maintenance Vendors and High-Maintenance Customers. The conversation that ensued was interesting, to say the least! Although framed differently, the approach to correcting High-Maintenance Behavior demonstrated by these two groups is very similar to that utilized with High-Maintenance Employees.
This morning's High-Maintenance Employee call (from a Client) was about debating issues/instructions/requests/just about anything. Managing this sort of high-maintenance behavior often results in even the best managers adapting their delegation styles (i.e., delegating to someone who won't debate) and making them less effective. Also, when this is done, the result--very often--is that of punishing the exceptional performers (who don't debate). I suggest positively confronting this issue...all the while, being absolutely clear with the Employee that his/her input is valued...and debating every issue is not.
