How to guide your employees' behavior

One of the most difficult tasks you will face as a leader is positively influencing your employees to achieve their potential. When an individual is responsive and open to suggestions, guiding them to elevate their self-expectations can be relatively simple. However, dealing with a valued employee who is unmotivated, resistant to change or appears “stuck in a rut” can be both frustrating and daunting. It's not only annoying, but it can also be perilous for your business.

Fortunately, as a leader and business owner, you have the potential to play a powerful role in guiding your employees to make changes to their behavior, initiate steps to be more proactive, and make a greater contribution to your organization. The key to impacting your employees' actions is twofold: identifying the critical factors required in influencing behavior; and developing a strategy for interacting with them that incorporates these principles.

The Problem
The disconnect between a business leader's expectations and an employee's response usually results from differing perspectives.