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Rees21880  
#1 Posted : 21 July 2014 10:18:49(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Rees21880

OK....I have a bit of quandery on how to improve a particular behaviour.........


One of my site managers is continually undermining the efforts of various people on site. The comments that he gives are predominantly negative, non-supporting and either unhelpful or not needed. This isn't generally in the direction of H&S but across all aspects of the business!

Examples are "yes, we can implement that but it won't work!"....or sarcastically doing a slot-machine hand-motion and saying "Kerching!!!" when sat in a team brief during a presentation by the Technical Manager.... I am not sure if he knows that he's like this but it is very frustrating. There are many, many more examples of this and not just these two!

Has anyone experienced this, and how did you get through it? Any constructive ideas or thoughts?

Cheers

Pete
A Kurdziel  
#2 Posted : 21 July 2014 10:42:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

The only way to deal with this is to challenge him: ask him what he would do.
You must put him on the spot; let everybody see just how negative he is and make sure that he knows that everybody knows just how negative he is.
At this point several things might happen:
1. (best solution) he learns his lessen and becomes more constructive;
2. (more likely) decides that this not fun anymore and moves on to find some else to annoy
3. (most likely) continues to be a pain but everybody knows it and they work around him, by-passing his authority.

paulgrif2671  
#3 Posted : 21 July 2014 10:47:19(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
paulgrif2671

Hi Pete,

From my experience what I have found is that a lot of people are oblivious to their behaviour. What they do becomes their "norm" and they are unaware of the effect that they are having on other people.

I would discuss with him what impact he feels the behaviour has on other people.
firesafety101  
#4 Posted : 21 July 2014 14:10:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

Find a common interest with the man, not necessarily to do with work but maybe football or something to chat about and get to know each other then you may find an opportunity to discuss the problem he has with you and everyone else?

Do not be negative with him, that only makes it worse.

A Kurdziel's suggestion to ask for his opinion is a good idea but don't embarrass him.
toffee wrapper  
#5 Posted : 23 July 2014 16:18:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
toffee wrapper

Fire safety's advice is spot on.

Get him onside with a nice one to one chat over a coffee and communicate with him. It is important not to put him on the spot or to embarrass him in public as that will make matters worse.

If this fails then you will have to tell him how disrespectful and disruptive his attitude and actions are. But hopefully it wont come to this.
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