How to deal with the brilliant, but problematic employee?

Do you have that one brilliant, irreplaceable employee who brings so much to the table but who seems to have been raised as a goliath? Here's why you need to do something. 

These people are geniuses at what they do and slight imperfections, like the ability to communicate in a humane way, are a small sacrifice. Well, maybe.

Yes, I would prefer my dad's surgeon be more brilliant with the knife than conversation.  But there's something to be said for tact and for being able to convey the information you have that many others don't.

As a employee, I don't expect those who possess some singular talent that drives business in a big way to be perfect crafted human. In other words, I don't need them to be winning friends all over the godforsaken place. But I don't think it's too much to ask these people to not make their coworkers dive under their desks in order not to have contact with them.

Geniuses like to play the Steve Jobs card to defend their countenances. Well, you know what? Mr. Jobs was indeed a genius, but if he'd reported to me, I'd have lauded his ideas but asked him to watch how he conveyed them.

Team

When management doesn't consider the brilliant employee for his or her negative attitudes or interaction with other team members, what do you think it says? It says that that person isn't held to the same principles of human ethics; that no one else on the team is as important as he is. Productivity increases as well, if your other employees would drink phenol than have an encounter with the resident genius.

The Harvard Business Review after studying the effect on Goliath behavior in the office and, based on responses from thousands of managers and employees, found that those with anti-social co-workers exhibit:

• a decrease in effort (48%)
• less time spent in the office (47%), and
• lower quality of work (38%)

Steps 

It's not always easy to face the cold, confident eyes of the office Genius & so called goliath in a one-on-one consult. That criticism will be with anger or, worse. And you might be right. But sometimes the person is absolutely unaware of how he or she comes across, is shocked by the truth, and wants to change. If not, you can and should impose some kind of checks and balances on him or her. No one is irreplaceable. Weigh the loss of your genius against the stats listed above, at times you may have to take these decisions if you are lucky enough in a position to do that, unfortunately if that was to be your manager (Enjoy!)

You may also want to consider offering bits of advise throughout the year rather than in one sit-down.

Another complication--some anti-social behavior comes about because of a need for control, an aggressive nature, and a host of other psychological aspects that are not in my understanding and/or dealing with. (Unless you're reading this and you're a licensed psychologist. In that case, I apologize) In that case, you can refer employees to HR or an EAP if your company has one.

Either way, don't sweep the issue under the table. It's unfair to your other employees. And just think of what heights your genius can climb to if his or her coworkers did not contribute. 

I personally face this kind of behavior from my Manager and unfortunately we have a same sort of management too, to whom you cannot complain. 

Some of the contents posted here were from the original content that I read from the Tech-republic site. 

Thanks & Regards,

S.Grace Paul Regan