What to do about difficult subordinates

This finishes the week of dealing with difficult people. It may seem strange to talk about "dealing" with difficult subordinates. After all, by definition, they are subordinate, subject to sanctions, driven by rewards that you give out. It should be a simple thing to reward behavior that is easy to work with while punishing behavior that is difficult, right?

It's rarely that straightforward. Practically, there might be constraints on how much you can punish a difficult subordinate--you may have to deal with more than you'd like. But more importantly, is a heavy-handed approach with subordinates always the most Christian way to supervise? That's not to say that a Christian supervisor can't expect discipline and hard work from subordinates. But what does the Bible say about interacting with the people that report to you, particularly when they are "problem" people?

First, remember that we are told to love. Subordinates aren't supposed to be exempt from that love. You need to love those who report to you. One way to show love is to lead as a servant rather than as a tyrant. Think about how you can serve your subordinates. Another way to love is to show mercy to subordinates. Think about the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:22-35). He was shown mercy by the Master, yet he showed no mercy to his fellow servant. In the story, you might think of the second servant who owed the first servant as his subordinate. You have been shown more mercy by the Master than you can ever repay. By comparison, whatever your subordinate does to you is small. You are called to be merciful. Part of that mercy is genuine forgiveness. Paul called Philemon to forgive his "subordinate" Onesimus. Onesimus deserved death according to Roman law. Surely your subordinates are not that bad!

As you show love to difficult subordinates, there are a few other practical things to consider. I really like Proverbs advice that a "gentle answer turns away wrath" (15:1). You may be tempted to respond strongly when a direct report is insubordinate or makes a mistake. That's where this proverb comes in handy. You have the authority to respond strongly, but perhaps a gentle answer will come nearer leading to a productive and committed employee than a harsh response. Another practical consideration is what to do when you hear subordinates talking about you. We like to poke fun at others. I can remember doing imitations of my bosses, and I'm sure that's a pretty common occurrence in most workplaces. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 suggests that you should be careful how you respond when subordinates are venting about you. After all, how many times have you shared your frustrations about a supervisor with someone else?