Explosive Behavior
"Lisa got so upset with me the other day she stormed out of my office in front of the rest of the team. How do I manage this situation now?”
If this or an analogous situation happens at the office or on-line during one of your staff meetings, it is best to manage the situation right away. Let “Lisa” go, address the remaining staff members by saying something such as “I will address what just happened as soon as we are finished here.” Continue with your meeting and then right after the meeting, approach the individual in private.
It is best to address situations without delay, not hours later, not days later but as soon after the incident as possible. The goal is to touch on the feelings that caused the reaction and having the incident fresh on your minds is key. Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable and connected.
Steps:
Let the individual storm off.
Circle back to the individual as soon as possible after the incident.
Ask open ended questions, such as what is going on? Or what just happened?
IMPORTANT. Sit back and listen to what “Lisa” says and what she might not be saying. Check body language.
Co-create a solution to proactively address the issue to avoid an explosive reaction in the future.
We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen twice as much as you talk.
Connection Bonus: Knowing we can all benefit from improving something, ask how you can support the individual in ways you may not have yet. Be open to hearing how you can lead the individual differently. The only way you can gather this information is to ask. Let them tell you what works best for them.
The only way to gain knowledge from others is to ask questions. Be curious, in your communication, with everyone you lead.
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