Sign-In
Cart
How to Manage Difficult Employees and Challenging Personalities: Practical Strategies for Handling Challenging Workplace Behavior
Paperback
Series: The Better Manager, Book 6
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Sep 21 2026
Pages: 136
Weight: 0.38
Height: 0.34 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Every manager eventually encounters someone whose behavior is affecting the work, the team, or both.
The challenge is knowing what to do next.
Should you coach? Set a boundary? Ask more questions? Change the conditions around the person? Start formal performance management? Or recognize that the situation is no longer one that coaching can solve?
Better Manager, Book Six takes a practical, no-nonsense approach to these situations-without reducing people to labels.
Instead of asking, Why is this person so difficult? Roy Moses shows managers how to ask better questions: What specifically is happening? When does it happen? What is driving the behavior? What is it costing the team? And what response actually fits the situation?
Inside, you'll learn how to:
- Diagnose behavior before reacting to it
- Separate observable actions from assumptions and labels
- Identify whether a pattern comes from a skill gap, unmet need, misaligned incentive, or genuine fit issue
- Handle chronic complaining without silencing legitimate feedback
- Address persistent negativity and its effect on the wider group
- Work with employees who openly resist change or quietly resist through inaction
- Respond to passive-aggressive behavior without getting pulled into arguments about intent
- Manage know-it-all behavior while preserving valuable expertise
- Address attention-seeking and other disruptive patterns
- Deal with unreliable performance and broken commitments
- Handle a high performer whose behavior is damaging the team
- Respond when an employee undermines your authority or decisions
- Manage workplace drama before it spreads
- Set clear behavioral boundaries
- Recognize when coaching has stopped producing meaningful change
- Understand when formal performance management becomes necessary
- Protect the rest of the team while addressing one person's behavior
- Use practical scripts for difficult conversations and decisions
The book is built around situations managers actually face. Each pattern is examined through diagnosis, likely causes, practical language, common mistakes, and concrete actions.
It is not a guide to psychoanalyzing employees, and it does not assume every difficult situation can be fixed throu
Also from
Moses, Roy
AI For HR: The Executive's Playbook for Transforming Human Resources with Artificial Intelligence
Moses, Roy
Paperback
Countdown to Retirement: A Complete Guide to Planning the Financial and Personal Journey of a Lifetime
Moses, Roy
Paperback
How to Sell More on Amazon: Build an Amazon business that lasts-not one that depends on luck.
Moses, Roy
Paperback
For The Love Of The Game: He Lived For The Game, She Gave Him Something To Fight For
Moses, Roy
Paperback
In The Wild: What if finding the life you were meant to live meant risking everything you already had?
Moses, Roy
Paperback
How To Make Friends: Discover the psychology and practical habits behind meaningful friendships
Moses, Roy
Paperback
How to Upskill: Future-Proof Your Career, Lead with Confidence, and Stay Relevant in an AI-Driven World
Moses, Roy
Paperback
Small Talk For Every Occassion: Master the art of conversation-anytime, anywhere.
Moses, Roy
Paperback
The Diabetes Generation: The diabetes epidemic is reshaping families around the world.
Moses, Roy
Paperback
For Men Only: THe Unfiltered Truth About Manhood, Life, Family, Finance and Relationships
Moses, Roy
Paperback
Why Your Business Will Fail: 20 most common reasons businesses collapse, and how to avoid them
Moses, Roy
Paperback
AI For Managers: How to Lead, Hire, Delegate and Perform in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Moses, Roy
Paperback
From Manager to Leader: Influence, Strategy and The Mindset Shift That Defines Senior Leaders
Moses, Roy
Paperback
The Second-Chance Marriage: Before You Walk Away, Find Out What Is Actually Possible
Moses, Roy
Paperback
Also in
Self-Help
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Midnight Blue Blank: (Blank Notebooks, Simple Notebook, Blue Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Brick Red Dotted: (Dotted Notebook, Notebook with Dots, Red Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
Brown, Brené
Paperback
The Craftivist Collective Handbook: Projects, Stories and Methods for Your Gentle Protests
Corbett, Sarah P.
Hardcover
How Do You Feel?: A Spectacular Compendium of Ideas, Interactive Games, Provocations, Tests, and Tricks That Explore the World of What You Feel and Wh
Hughes, Edgar Gerrard
Paperback
The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker's Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World
Gerasimo, Pilar
Paperback
Conscious Crafts: Knitting: 20 Mindful Makes to Reconnect Head, Heart & Hands
Kludje, Sicgmone
Koranteng, Vanessa
Hardcover
Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul
Richtel, Matt
Hardcover
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round
Attenberg, Jami
Hardcover
Your Intuition Led You Here: Daily Rituals for Empowerment, Inner Knowing, and Magic
Vargas, Marlene
Naranjo, Alex
Hardcover
It's Just Fucking Meditation: How to Find Yourself, Calm Your Anxiety and Manifest the Life of Your Dreams
Holub, Bryan
Paperback
The Complete Guide to the Enneagram: A Modern Approach to Self-Discovery and Connecting Well with Others
MacKenzie, Sierra
Paperback
The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness [With CD]
Teasdale, John
Segal, Zindel
Williams, Mark
Paperback
Awakening the Chakras: The Seven Energy Centers in Your Daily Life
Weltevrede, Pieter
Daniels, Victor
Daniels, Kooch N.
Paperback
Worthy as You Are: Weed Out Unhealthy Beliefs and Nourish Your Authentic Self
Duriel, Durgadas Allon
Paperback
The Power of Your Angels: 28 Days to Finding Your Path and Realizing Your Life's Dreams
Fallois, Isabelle
Paperback
Escribe El Guion de la Vida Que Quieres: Manifiesta Tus Sueños Con Tan Solo Lápiz Y Papel
Christyn, Royce
Paperback
Witch Wisdom for Magical Aging: Finding Your Power Through the Changing Seasons
Johnson, Cait
Paperback
Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick
Jen Sincero
Paperback
Creative Visualization: Using Imagery and Imagination for Self-Transformation
Shone, Ronald
Paperback
I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl
Jones, Alexis
Paperback
The Art of Communication: How to Be Authentic, Lead Others, and Create Strong Connections
Apps, Judy
Hardcover
Martial Arts Teaching Tales of Power and Paradox: Freeing the Mind, Focusing Chi, and Mastering the Self
Fauliot, Pascal
Paperback
Catastrofobia: La Verdad Detrás de Los Cambios de la Tierra En El Arribo de la Era de Luz
Clow, Barbara Hand
Paperback
Princes, Frogs & Ugly Sisters: The Healing Power of the Grimm Brothers' Tales
Hunter, Allan G.
Paperback
The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest
Buettner, Dan
Hardcover
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth
Keefe, Patrick Radden
Hardcover
Discover Your Soul Template: 14 Steps for Awakening Integrated Intelligence
Anthony, Marcus T.
Paperback
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking about
Robbins, Sawyer
Robbins, Mel
Hardcover
As a Man Thinketh - the Original 1902 Classic (includes the Mastery of Destiny) (Reader's Library Classics)
Allen, James
Paperback
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Paperback
Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers
Harper, Faith G.
Paperback
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Haidt, Jonathan
Hardcover
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself
Lawson, Jenny
Hardcover
The Little Frog's Guide to Life: Love, Advice and Inspiration for Every Day from the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog
Eequay, Maybell
Hardcover
Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
Hill, Napoleon
Paperback
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
Koga, Fumitake
Kishimi, Ichiro
Paperback
The Little Frog's Guide to Self-Care: Affirmations, Self-Love and Life Lessons According to the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog
Eequay, Maybell
Hardcover
The Retire Sooner Method: The 5 Secrets Behind America's Happiest (and Unhappiest) Retirees
Moss, Wes
Hardcover
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Pressfield, Steven
Paperback
Hbr's 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness, Updated and Expanded (Featuring How to Stop Worrying about What Other People Think of You by Michael Gervais)
Review, Harvard Business
Gervais, Michael
Duckworth, Angela L.
Paperback
Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition): Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering
Nguyen, Joseph
Hardcover
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want
Holden, Amanda
Hardcover
Take Breaks, Work Better: Measure Impact, Not Hours, and Transform Your Profitability
Briggs, John
Paperback
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Patterson, Kerry
Grenny, Joseph
McMillan, Ron
Paperback
The Forever Paycheck: The New Retirement Strategy to Spend More, Worry Less, and Never Run Out of Money
Chatzky, Jean
Hardcover
Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom from Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans
Jones, Sheinelle
Hardcover
The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life
Warren MD W. Lee
Hardcover
Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide to Changing the Way You Treat Yourself
Brown, Misha
Hardcover
Stop Letting Everything Affect You: How to break free from overthinking, emotional chaos, and self-sabotage.
Chidiac, Daniel
Paperback
Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being
Diaz, Keith
Zomorodi, Manoush
Hardcover
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
Rosenberg, Marshall B.
Paperback
The Courage to Commit: Embrace the Radical Power of Sticking with Something
Johnson, Shawn
East, Andrew
Hardcover
Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity--One Step at a Time
Conley, Courtney
McDowell, Milica
Hardcover
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Hanselman, Stephen
Holiday, Ryan
Hardcover
A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Selected from the World's Sacred Texts
Tolstoy, Leo
Hardcover
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
Johnson, Spencer
Hardcover
The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything
Jezer-Morton, Kathryn
Hardcover
The Butterfly Season: What 64 Butterflies Taught Me about Nature's Great Mysteries and the Meaning of Life
Korsgaard, Lea
Hardcover
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World
McRaven, William H.
Hardcover
Rewrite the Program: How to Stop Conforming, Start Exploring, and Find Fulfillment
Bowman, Eli
Paperback
The Saved Effect: True Stories of Lives Reclaimed by People Who Were Willing to ACT
Newbury, Brad
Newbury, Kiera
Hardcover
The Last Leaf: Reflections on Late-Life Creativity--And My Longest Love Affair
Nelson, Willie
Hardcover
You Don't Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading Your Phone and Upgrading Your Life
Lamm, August
Paperback
Winning the War in Your Mind Workbook: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
Groeschel, Craig
Paperback
Tarot for the Wild Soul: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Growth, Healing, and Grounding in the Present Moment
Mack, Lindsay
Hardcover
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Manson, Mark
Hardcover
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition: Features a New Foreword and Brand-New Tools
Brown, Brené
Paperback
Are You Mad at Me?: How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You
Josephson, Meg
Hardcover
Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
Burkeman, Oliver
Paperback
Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy
Jones, Robert P.
Hardcover