5 ways on how to deal with whiny employees

Most bosses, during their career, have had to handle their share of whiny, complaining employees. 

They are the ones who're the first to complain when a new change is introduced, the ones who gripe and moan about every little thing. 

But deal with them you must if you don't want things to get out of hand. Sreeradha D Basu gets you the tips on how to go about it. 

1. Hear Them Out 

Listen to the employee in question for some time to figure out if there is some basis to the whining. 

"Reinforce their faith. Assure them that if there are legitimate concerns, they will definitely be looked into," says Randeep Singh Sisodia, VP-HR, Laureate Education India. Even the employee feels better after being "heard". 

2. Offer Flexibility 

The rush to achieve goals shouldn't rob employees of the opportunity to enjoy the journey, feels Nickhil Jakatdar, CEO and founder of mobile video company Vuclip. 

Pressure can on occasion beget extraordinary, out-of-the-box ideas and solutions, but unrelenting pressure without flexibility doesn't lead to anything except burnout, he says. 

"I've found that offering employees flexibility keeps the energy positive. This is even more important with a growing number of virtual offices and global teams," he adds. 

3. Show the Positive Side of Things 

These kinds of employees typically tend to have a pessimistic outlook. It's important, says Sisodia, to show them the positives of the job to help them balance things out. 

"So, if a particular employee is complaining about his boss, you can point out the good things about the job like the open culture of the company, the helpful colleagues, the career opportunities within the organisation and so on," he says. 

4. Leverage Right Forums 

"Let your employees know that while it's ok to raise concerns, it should be done only at the right forums," says Sisodia. 

"So, while it's all right to go and air your complaints to superiors, HR and the like, it is not acceptable to do the same with colleagues. That will only spread negativity," he says. 

5. Help Employee See Bigger Picture 

According to Jakatdar, it's important to ensure employees are continually reconnecting with the company's/leader's mission and the big picture because only chasing short-term business goals can become too routine. 

"Each employee should always know very clearly their role and contribution to the company's mission. This is the greatest motivator and morale booster," he says. 

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/