How to handle a problem employee everyone is tired of like a leader, not a manager
It’s Tactical Tuesday!
Here is the Thought, Tip, and Tool of the week...need Leadership 101 tools? Start here.
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The Thought
Did you know… teams don’t usually burn out because of workload - they burn out because leaders tolerate the same problem behavior for too long?
When one person repeatedly disrupts deadlines, communication, or trust, morale doesn’t just dip. It bleeds.
Managers avoid discomfort to keep the peace.
Leaders step in to protect the team and give the problem employee a real chance to improve.
Quote:
“What you allow is what will continue.” - Unknown
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The Tip
Remember to…
1. Stop protecting them from the impact
A manager says:
“People are frustrated, but let’s not make a big deal.”
A leader says:
“I need to talk to you about how your behavior is affecting the team.”
Shielding someone from consequences teaches them nothing—and exhausts everyone else.
Ask directly:
“Are you aware of how this is landing with the rest of the team?”
What we avoid doesn’t disappear.
It spreads.
2. Address behavior, not personality
Labels create defensiveness.
Specifics create clarity.
A manager labels:
“You’re difficult to work with.”
A leader uses SBI:
- Situation: “In the last two sprints…”
- Behavior: “You missed the deadline and didn’t flag the risk.”
- Impact: “The team had to cover, and trust took a hit.”
Then ask:
“Do you see the pattern I’m describing?”
Behavior can be fixed.
Character attacks shut people down.
3. Add the P to SBI and co-create the plan
Feedback alone isn’t leadership.
A plan is.
A manager threatens:
“This needs to change or else.”
A leader resets expectations:
“This role requires reliability and collaboration. Let’s define what needs to change and how we’ll measure it.”
Then co-create:
“What commitments are you willing to make?”
“What support do you need to follow through?”
SBI gives clarity.
SBIP creates accountability that actually sticks.
Managers tolerate problems to avoid discomfort.
Leaders address them to protect the standard—and the team.
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The Tool
Short Video: Learn how leaders deal with the one employee everyone is tired of—without labeling, blowing up morale, or letting resentment fester.
See how to use the SBIP model to interrupt patterns, reset expectations, and give someone a real path to improvement.
Watch the viral video on TikTok
Watch this video & read the post on LinkedIn
Watch this viral video on Instagram
Watch this viral video on Facebook
Or watch other CLA videos here on YouTube
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Leadership Question of the week…
Here is the top question this week from our 200+ Leadership Questions (part of our Complete Leader Package. Don’t have these? Get instant access here.
❓How do you hold yourself accountable for team goals?
❓How do you hold others accountable, and how can we improve that?
❓How can we make accountability feel more supportive?
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Activity of the week…
Here is the top activity this week from our 52 Team Meeting Activity Cards. Don’t have these download? Get your physical copy here OR a printable version as part of the Complete Leader Package.
Check out my Team Meeting Activities Playlist here
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Thank you for leading like a coach out there!
-Dwight
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