Changing the Mindset of Challenging Employees

“You cannot change people. You can only help them change themselves.”
— Jim Rohn

Every leader encounters a challenging employee. Often, these individuals have talent and potential. The difficulty shows up when behaviors or attitudes consistently create friction—resisting direction, missing expectations, or negatively impacting morale, communication, or culture.

The first step is to spot the real issue. Challenging behavior is rarely the root problem. More often, it’s caused by unclear roles, misaligned expectations, organizational change, or employees feeling unheard, undervalued, stressed, or lacking accountability. When leaders slow down long enough to understand the why, better solutions emerge.

Strong leaders learn to see challenges as puzzles to solve, not problems to fear. That shift in mindset changes how conversations happen. Instead of reacting, leaders reframe challenges as growth opportunities. They identify missing pieces—what’s unclear, what support is needed, and who can help move things forward.

It’s also important to remember, don’t try to save everyone. Some people will grow. Some won’t. Leadership isn’t about fixing people—it’s about giving them a fair chance and a clear path forward. In the end, every employee chooses their mindset, but I really like to try an influence that mindset towards the positive.

Your role as a leader is to create an environment where clarity is expected, accountability is practiced, and positive behavior is consistently rewarded. When leaders help people develop a healthier mindset about themselves, real and lasting change becomes possible.

Chris once sat in my office and shared something powerful. He told me that when his mindset changed, his marriage improved—because he stopped blaming his wife for their problems and started looking inward. That shift didn’t happen by accident. Chris had been attending a leadership development class every month, and through that process, his self-awareness grew.

As his awareness increased, so did his accountability—to himself and to others. The result was not only a stronger marriage, but also a more engaged, responsible, and effective team player at work.

— Jeff