Stephen Nagle CHEP

As a former stagnated employee don't forget health.  I had an undiagnosed thyroid condition for about 15 years

and as it slowly crashed completely the description of the above employee sounds just like me.  I thought I was

just getting old and that everyone felt that way as they got older.  After it was diagnosed my whole world and

employment status changed.  I actually ended up in the emergency room and spent a week in the hospital.

If possible recommend they get a physical which should include a "full metabolic panel".  I also had low sodium if

you can believe that which like a thyroid condition can make you feel tired, dizzy ,hard to think , oh and cranky.

I hope this helps,  I can say I wish someone had pushed me in the right direction years ago.

Good Luck

Roberto Daglio

First off you are looking for advice without giving enough information which, I guess, since this is a blog, you might not be able to do so.  Having said that I think you should take into consideration the following:

1. Gender:  If female another female may be in a better position to help.  If male he might be able to identify and receive from another male more effectively as well.
2. Job description:  Are we talking about the receptionist, the file clerk, the president’s secretary, the delivery person, a admissions rep., or maybe a FA rep.?  Maybe they are bored and need a more fulfilling job description.  Would going back to school motivate them?  Would attaining more responsibility lift their sense of self worth?  Or maybe it is the entire contrary; he/she has too much responsibility and does not feel that he is producing up to par with what is expected.
3. Some people, especially non-team players, struggle with feeling victorious when things are good because of the effort the team put out.  They feel better by recognition of personal contributions or accomplishments.
4. Has something changed in this person’s personal life?  Maybe he/she needs some counseling.  Sometimes personal problems start weighing on our jobs especially when they are of  the non-communicable kind.
5. Cultural considerations may come into play.  A counselor of the same cultural backgroung would be best prepared to help.

I hope this helps to jog some ideas and that your coworker overcomes this temporary situation.

Carolyn Lewis

I would approach this in two ways:  both on a personal level and enhancing job productivity.  First, what is happening in the personal life?  Is this person experiencing any crisis or sense of "is that all there is" within the framework of personal life?  Encourage this employee to seek out what it is they have an interest in or have been wanting to do.  This new-found inspiration and creativity, if activated, could cross over into the professional career.  Secondly, professional team-building, mentoring and have employee involved with a training course within the company, or for the department could help the stagnation problem within the person and help the company produce a more focused and motivated worker.  This will help instill confidence and pride back into the worker, and only helps to further service the company's overall outcome rate in a positive and advantageous way.

Miriam Birdsong

Stop.  Look at the person.  How are they in other areas of their life.  I am not sure that the job is the issue and possibly the behaviors are reflective of disfunction/stress from another source.  Refer to HR for another form of intervention.  Nothing makes a stressed out person more stressed than having a cheerleader in their face.  You care and you want to help, but it's time for help from outside.  Remain positive and approachable, not judgemental.  You will find your answer.