Questions to Ask an Employee with a Bad Attitude
Strategic questions to address employee attitude issues constructively, understand underlying concerns, and work toward positive resolution while maintaining professionalism and team harmony.
1I've noticed some changes in your demeanor lately. Is there something specific that's been bothering you or affecting your work?
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I've noticed some changes in your demeanor lately. Is there something specific that's been bothering you or affecting your work?
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Why this works
Opens the door for honest communication while showing you care about their well-being and are willing to listen to their concerns.
2How are you feeling about your current role and responsibilities? Is there anything that's been particularly challenging or frustrating?
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How are you feeling about your current role and responsibilities? Is there anything that's been particularly challenging or frustrating?
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Why this works
Helps identify if the attitude stems from job dissatisfaction, unclear expectations, or feeling overwhelmed by their workload.
3What would make your work experience more positive and fulfilling?
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What would make your work experience more positive and fulfilling?
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Why this works
Shows you want to help improve their situation while giving them a chance to express what they need to be successful and satisfied.
4Are there any workplace dynamics or relationships that are causing you stress or concern?
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Are there any workplace dynamics or relationships that are causing you stress or concern?
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Why this works
Reveals if interpersonal conflicts or team dynamics are contributing to their negative attitude and helps identify specific issues to address.
5How can I better support you in your role, and what resources or assistance do you need?
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How can I better support you in your role, and what resources or assistance do you need?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your commitment to their success while helping you understand what support they need to perform well and feel valued.
6What are your career goals, and how do you see your current role fitting into your professional development?
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What are your career goals, and how do you see your current role fitting into your professional development?
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Why this works
Helps identify if they feel stuck or unfulfilled in their current position and reveals opportunities for growth or role adjustments.
7Is there anything happening in your personal life that might be affecting your work performance or attitude?
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Is there anything happening in your personal life that might be affecting your work performance or attitude?
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Why this works
Shows empathy and understanding while helping you determine if external factors are contributing to their workplace behavior.
8What feedback do you have about our team dynamics and how we work together?
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What feedback do you have about our team dynamics and how we work together?
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Why this works
Gives them a chance to express concerns about team culture while helping you understand their perspective on workplace relationships.
9How do you prefer to receive feedback and communication from me and other team members?
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How do you prefer to receive feedback and communication from me and other team members?
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Why this works
Helps establish better communication patterns while showing you want to work with them in ways that are comfortable for them.
10What changes would you like to see in our work environment or processes that might help you feel more engaged?
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What changes would you like to see in our work environment or processes that might help you feel more engaged?
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Why this works
Shows you're open to making improvements while giving them a voice in shaping their work environment.
11Are there any specific incidents or situations that have contributed to your current feelings about work?
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Are there any specific incidents or situations that have contributed to your current feelings about work?
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Why this works
Helps identify specific triggers or events that may have led to their negative attitude and provides context for addressing the issues.
12How do you think your attitude has been affecting your colleagues and our team dynamics?
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How do you think your attitude has been affecting your colleagues and our team dynamics?
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Why this works
Helps them understand the impact of their behavior while encouraging self-reflection and awareness of how their actions affect others.
13What would success look like for you in this role, and what steps can we take to get there?
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What would success look like for you in this role, and what steps can we take to get there?
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Why this works
Focuses on positive outcomes while helping you understand their definition of success and how to support their achievement.
14Are there any skills or areas where you'd like additional training or development?
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Are there any skills or areas where you'd like additional training or development?
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Why this works
Shows you're invested in their growth while helping identify if lack of skills or confidence is contributing to their negative attitude.
15How can we work together to improve your job satisfaction and overall experience here?
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How can we work together to improve your job satisfaction and overall experience here?
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Why this works
Demonstrates partnership and collaboration while showing you're committed to finding solutions that work for both of you.
16What would you need to see from me and the team to feel more supported and valued?
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What would you need to see from me and the team to feel more supported and valued?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their specific needs while showing you're willing to make changes to support their success.
17Are there any concerns about job security, workload, or future opportunities that might be affecting your attitude?
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Are there any concerns about job security, workload, or future opportunities that might be affecting your attitude?
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Why this works
Addresses potential fears or anxieties that may be contributing to their negative behavior while providing reassurance and clarity.
18How do you think we can rebuild trust and improve our working relationship?
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How do you think we can rebuild trust and improve our working relationship?
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Why this works
Focuses on moving forward positively while acknowledging that there may be trust issues that need to be addressed.
19What would you like to see happen differently in our next interaction to make it more productive and positive?
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What would you like to see happen differently in our next interaction to make it more productive and positive?
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Why this works
Gives them input on how to improve future conversations while showing you're committed to making the relationship work.
20How can we ensure that both of us are committed to making positive changes going forward?
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How can we ensure that both of us are committed to making positive changes going forward?
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Why this works
Establishes mutual commitment to improvement while ensuring both parties are invested in creating a better working relationship.
Addressing Employee Attitude Issues Constructively
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices for Difficult Conversations
Approach with Empathy and Understanding
Start from a place of care and concern rather than criticism. Show that you want to understand their perspective and help them succeed.
Focus on Behavior and Impact
Address specific behaviors and their impact on the team rather than making personal attacks. This keeps the conversation professional and constructive.
Listen Actively and Validate Concerns
Give them space to express their concerns and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree with their perspective. This builds trust and opens communication.
Question Sequences
The Understanding Sequence
The Impact Awareness Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Make It Personal
Focus on specific behaviors and their impact rather than attacking their character or personality. This keeps the conversation professional and constructive.
Don't Ignore the Root Cause
Address the underlying issues that may be causing the attitude problem rather than just focusing on the symptoms. This leads to more lasting solutions.
Don't Avoid the Conversation
Ignoring attitude issues rarely makes them go away. Address problems early and directly to prevent them from escalating and affecting the entire team.