Managing Difficult Employees: How to Address Behavior, Performance & Conflict

Difficult employees can consume a disproportionate amount of a manager’s time, energy, and attention. Whether the issue involves poor performance, disruptive behavior, resistance to change, workplace conflict, negativity, attitude problems, or failure to meet expectations, knowing how to respond effectively is an essential leadership skill.

Ignoring the problem can allow it to grow. Addressing it poorly can create even greater conflict, damage morale, reduce productivity, and potentially expose the organization to unnecessary risk.

This practical and engaging webinar will help managers, supervisors, and leaders develop the confidence and skills needed to address challenging employee situations professionally and effectively. Participants will learn how to identify the real issue, communicate expectations clearly, conduct difficult conversations, manage conflict, document concerns, and take appropriate action while maintaining professionalism and productive working relationships.

Rather than avoiding difficult employees or allowing challenging behavior to dominate the workplace, leaders will gain practical strategies for addressing problems early and creating greater accountability.

Webinar Agenda

• Understanding Difficult Employee Situations
• Addressing Problematic Workplace Behavior
• Managing Poor Performance
• Having Difficult Conversations
• Managing Workplace Conflict
• Documentation, Follow-Up & Corrective Action
• Building a Culture of Accountability

Learning Objectives

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify common types and causes of difficult employee behavior
• Distinguish between performance deficiencies, behavioral problems, and interpersonal conflict.
• Recognize early indicators that an employee issue may escalate.
• Develop strategies for addressing challenging behavior professionally
• Conduct difficult conversations with greater confidence and clarity
• Communicate expectations and performance standards effectively
• Respond appropriately to defensiveness, resistance, anger, and denial
• Use coaching and feedback techniques to improve employee performance
• Manage workplace conflict while maintaining productive relationships
• Establish accountability without relying on excessive supervision or micromanagement
• Document performance and behavioral concerns appropriately
• Determine when a situation requires additional management, HR, or corrective-action support
• Maintain team morale when one employee’s behavior affects coworkers

Webinar Highlights

• Identify the root causes behind difficult employee behavior
• Recognize early warning signs of performance and behavioral problems
• Address negativity, resistance, disruptive conduct, and poor performance
• Master the art of having difficult conversations
• Handle defensive, argumentative, or uncooperative employees
• Set clear expectations, boundaries, and accountability standards
• Recognize early warning signs of performance and behavioral problems
• Manage workplace conflict before it damages team morale
• Improve performance through effective coaching and feedback
• Document employee concerns appropriately and consistently
• Avoid common management mistakes that can escalate employee problems

Who Should Attend

Every manager eventually encounters an employee who is difficult to manage. The real challenge is knowing how to address the situation before it affects performance, team morale, productivity, and the overall workplace environment.

This webinar provides practical strategies you can apply immediately to manage difficult employee situations with greater confidence, consistency, and professionalism.

You will leave with a clearer understanding of how to address behavior, improve accountability, manage conflict, and handle difficult conversations—without unnecessarily damaging working relationships.