A Publication of Lighthouse Consulting Services 3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310) 453-6556
M ost employees who are “problem children” are not problems because they can’t do the job or don’t have the technical skills.  Most problem people are lacking the softer interpersonal and communication skills.  Take for example, Eddie.  Eddie manages a staff of about twelve project engineers for a high-tech company.  These engineers are senior technical people who are highly-educated, bright and hardworking; and they all have one other thing in common – they dislike working for Eddie.  While Eddie is respected on a technical level by all who work with him, his rudeness, insensitivity and lack of interpersonal skills are often discussed openly by his coworkers and staff.  “If we could only put him in a room by himself and let him design…” is a common sentiment among his co-workers.  Unfortunately, no one has told Eddie about his offending behavior directly… Greg is a construction supervisor who had outstanding capabilities as a hands-on crew member.  He could build or repair any construction problem; plumbing, drywall, carpentry, electrical and more!  So, as a direct result of his superior hands-on skills, he was promoted to become the supervisor of a large work crew.  Unfortunately, he is not thriving in his new role.  Not only is he not a capable supervisor, Eddie doesn’t enjoy the new responsibilities and his staff does not respect or want him as their		crew leader.  How can he “save face” and stay with the company?   Eddie knows he’s failing, but his boss has never brought the issue up with him… Or let’s look at Susan. Susan is a teller in a busy bank.  She works with 4 other tellers, but is so caustic in her dealings with co-workers they avoid her.  She never smiles, greets her coworkers with a “Good Morning” or “Good Evening”, is cutting and sarcastic when she does speak with them, and doesn’t have a kind word to say to anyone but her customers.  If only she could treat her coworkers with the same respect.  Although she is an effective teller, her lack of interaction with the rest of the workgroup is beginning to affect her performance. She is often out of the loop with important issues because no one wants to speak with her if they can avoid it.  This will likely escalate, and Susan doesn’t even know about the real problem….
Lighthouse Consulting Services  3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310) 453-6556