How to Handle Star Employees With Bad Attitudes

Consider the source. “Identify the reason for the attitude. Perhaps it’s in response to his or her manager’s bad attitude. In many cases, an employee may not feel comfortable or know how to deal with this kind of a situation, and that unhappiness may manifest itself in a negative demeanor. It is so important to always take the opportunity to learn of gaps in our business operations. These conversations give us a glimpse into areas for improvement that we would otherwise miss.” — Johanna Zlenko,

Dig deeper.  “Ask how the person is feeling about work. Open-ended questions such as: ‘If you could change one thing about this company, what would it be?’ or ‘If you could restructure your workday, what would it look like?’ can reveal that the person is having personal issues or a communication problem with a coworker or is concerned about the direction of the company. Whatever the response, make sure to listen. Close your computer, put your phone away, or get out of the office to have this conversation. It will make the next steps clearer.” — Steven Gutentag, cofounder,