When the Grinch stole Christmas from all the Whos down in Whoville, he went about it with passion and fury. The scrawny-limbed hermit with a nasty attitude and a foul grimace felt like an outsider who was unappreciated by his peers, so he decided to turn the tables and ruin Christmas for the entire village.
It’s entirely possible that you have a Grinch or two (…or fifty) working across your front lines. Although they may physically blend in with the pack, their sour outlook and foul disposition can drain the holiday cheer from your culture and suck every ounce of Christmas joy from your customers. 
Understandably, you want to eradicate the Grinches from your workforce. But hey, you’re short-staffed as it is, and you desperately need every warm body you have just to make it through to next year.
So rather than fire them, is there any way you can you transform your Grinches into gleeful contributors?
Yes. And here are two ideas to help achieve that result: (WARNING: Both are counter-intuitive to your instincts!)
- Strengthen the relationship by showing you care. Pull them aside and ask them about their holiday plans. Or ask them to tell you about the best/worst Christmas gift they ever received as a kid, or ask them what their all-time favorite holiday movie is. You might find out that you share something in common with this Grinch, and it’s from there where the relationship can take root and blossom. It’s easier to stay positive and perform for a boss you really like, and it’s really hard to dislike like a boss who goes out of their way to show that they care about you.
- Show ‘em some love. Yeah, I know. This is the complete opposite of everything you want to do; and they sure don’t deserve it. But there’s no better way to crank up the positivity and productivity in your Grinches than with a warm greeting and a compliment. What is it that your Grinch is doing right that you can praise them for and even reward? If you called them to your office, they’d be expecting some sort of correction or condemnation on their behavior. Can you imagine how much they’d be shocked if, instead, you offered a smile and a pat-on-the-back for something they did that was positive? Even though their heart wouldn’t instantly grow ten sizes, it would certainly impact their performance that day, giving you a chance to call them back in tomorrow. Lather-Rinse-Repeat. Get it?
ON POINT – If you have a surplus of applications on your desk with qualified eager candidates chomping at the bit to join your ranks, then fire and replace all your Grinches immediately. However, if employee turnover is zapping your Christmas joy, then go against your instincts and attempt to transform your Grinches into gleeful contributors and dedicated performers.
