5 Signs that You have an Employee that is Holding You Hostage
Have you ever been in a situation that you were so deep in the day-to-day issues of your business that you didn’t see what was going on inside your own walls? Or maybe, you know what is happening inside your own walls but always say that you will deal with the issue later in hopes that it will just disappear. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum, we all have times that we struggle with our employees. Sometimes the struggle is more than just a disagreement; sometimes it is truly your employee holding you hostage. Here are 5 telltale signs that you have an employee holding you hostage.
- You have to walk on egg shells around the person.
You know the type of person I’m talking about. They are the person you know that if you bring up a certain topic with or give any negative feedback they will explode and it will be ugly. Part of being an adult is knowing how handle negative feedback, and when you have an employee that everyone must dance around issues on due to fear of their reaction, they are, in fact, holding you hostage. It is time for them to grow up or move out.
- They blame others and are constantly making excuses.
When an employee will never own up to their mistakes and are constantly blaming others for things that are their responsibility, there is a good chance that your employee is holding you hostage. A good employee will always own up to their mistakes and work to find ways to fix mistakes.
- You never get a straight answer.
It’s never a good sign when an employee dances around an issue or constantly needs to “get back to you” on an answer. You are employing this person to solve a problem and if they can never give you a straight answer, there is a good chance they are holding you hostage.
- They make it seem like no one else could do their job.
Do you have an accountant who wants you to believe that you could never understand the books without them? Or what about a sales person who says that you would never be able to relate to their customers? Chances are they are holding you hostage. You are the owner of the business and you have the ability to continue the business with or without them.
- They turn other employees against you.
When an employee is talking behind your back and turning other employees against you, this is a major sign that you have an employee that is holding you hostage. Regardless of what the reason is that your employees are turning against you, it is your job to put out the fire. If it is a problem employee, deal with this employee face to face and make it known that you are in charge.
While dealing with an employee who is holding you hostage is never fun, it is important to deal with the employee swiftly in any of these situations. The way you handle this situation will be communicated to others in your business and they will take cues on how to act based on the situation.
