Welcome back!
Once you’ve decided what you believe will be the most humane, effective course of action for resolving the problem, the next step is to implement the solution. Sit the person down and explain exactly what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what is expected from this point forward. Dysfunctional people will try all sorts of craziness at this point to get you to back down. Favorite manipulative tactics include temper tantrums, crying fake tears, denying ever having done anything wrong in their entire life, blaming childhood circumstances for their misdeeds, or my personal favorite, claiming the devil made them do it. In the face of such theatrics, you must stay grounded, calm, and strong. People use manipulative tactics because they work. Sometimes the problem individual has been catered to by people who are afraid of confrontation, who buckle under the pressure of the slightest pushback. Nope, the drama stops with you. You are the one to stand up and demand better out of them. In doing so, you are teaching them a healthier, more effective way to live. Hold your ground and let them know that whether they like it or not, you are going to get better out of them, or there will consequences that swiftly follow. Make it crystal clear to them that regardless of what they think or feel, they are responsible for following the new rules. They will be held accountable for themselves, and their impact on the team. Expect them to promptly test your resolve, to see whether you are serious about fixing the problem or not.
Until next time, I’ll be praying that you call up every morsel of strength you possess to change in the ways you need to, so that you can help others change in the ways that they need to. Such is the gritty blessing of a leadership position. 🙂
