Do you have an employee in your team who gives excellent results but who constantly criticises everyone and everything? Every time you say something he openly gives the opposing view. Up until now you have ignored it but now you realise that you are going to have to do something because the whole team's productivity is beginning to drop.
You ask yourself, why is this employee always speaking out? There are two possibilities: either he really does believe that he is right or he just wants to attract attention to himself. In both cases it is up to you to use his behaviour to support the team and not demotivate it.
What to do with rebels?
First of all, look for the causes. Make sure that your employees have the opportunity to express their thoughts and that they can not only express them but also put them into practice. If somebody feels that the company is ignoring them, they will understandably be frustrated and this will lead them to express their dissatisfaction.
Then sit down with the “rebel” and talk about the way processes are set out within the company. Emphasize that you welcome suggestions for improvements but at the same time you have to respect the working practices laid down by the company's senior management. Focus on directing the rebel's energy towards a particular project that will enable him to try out his own ideas.
Use a coaching approach to show the rebel that he is part of the team. Help him to understand that you achieve success by working together and that rebellion only makes sense if it lifts the team to perform better. If even this doesn't help, seriously think about what value the individual's performance has for you.
-kk-