Charles O’Reilly is the Frank E Buck Professor of Management and Hank McKinnell-Pfizer director of the Centre for Leadership Development and Research at Stanford University. Dowload our podcast to hear Professor O'Reilly discuss the art of dealing with difficult employees.

Key points:

1. What is the intent of the employee? If their actions are for the greater good of the company, then perhaps you should be more accommodating. If their behaviour is to seek attention or because of their own particular pathology, then you need to act quickly

2. Think clearly about the signals you are sending in working with a difficult employee. Are you sending a signal that their behaviour is being tolerated?

3. How much of the problem is your problem, and how much is it theirs?

4. Does the individual really appreciate the impact their behaviour is having on other people in the organisation? You need to have that conversation and find out how you can fix the problem. Help them to understand that their behaviour is having harmful affects on others

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