Packaging factory shares: How can leaders lead a good team? Learn these 6 “borrowings”, and subordinates will be well-behaved.

In the workplace, some people are always arrogant and unruly, disobedient, and even openly confrontational. For a leader, this is embarrassing and intolerable.

There's a 'sheep effect' in management. If one person openly opposes you and it's not stopped immediately, others will follow suit. Therefore, ignoring or condoning this behavior will result in the loss of your authority.

There may be three reasons for their defiance: your incompetence, their ambition, or their simple foolishness. Regardless, brute force is not the answer. Threatening dismissal might escalate the conflict, while reporting them to the company highlights your own management failings; neither is a good strategy.

So, how should you deal with such employees? Shunxingyuan Packaging, a packaging plant, offers you 6 "borrowing" strategies.

1 1. Borrowing Strength to Fight Strength

Managing employees is like training a horse; the more timid you are, the more likely the horse is to throw you. If you are confident, it will obediently carry you. If you show timidity and weakness in front of your subordinates, they will see you as incompetent and will challenge your authority.

Management is a game of strategy. For such subordinates, you must overpower them. If they disobey orders, use the authority of higher-ups. For example: "This isn't a discussion. This is a task assigned by management. If you don't want to do it, go ask the boss yourself."

2 2. Taking Advantage of an Opportunity

Avoid direct conflict with disobedient subordinates, as it can be difficult to resolve. Use meetings to address the issue indirectly, criticizing unprofessional behavior without naming names. This allows for measured action, builds public opinion, and serves as a warning.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, General Di Qing was loved by his soldiers. His high rank led to some arrogance. Once, Emperor Renzong praised Di Qing as a loyal minister, to which Chancellor Wen Yanbo responded, "Wasn't Taizu also loyal to the Later Zhou Dynasty?" This immediately alerted the emperor, who subsequently relieved Di Qing of his post. Di Qing later died of depression.

3. Using Others' Resources

Sometimes, to express dissatisfaction with a subordinate, you can use others' resources to achieve your goal. This means using someone else to convey your message, indirectly criticizing the subordinate through someone else. This subtly issues a warning and shows disapproval.

In the later years of Yao Chong's tenure as chancellor, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was very dissatisfied. Later, Yao Chong's confidant Zhao Hui was found guilty of bribery and sentenced to death. Yao Chong pleaded for Zhao Hui, and Xuanzong decreed that he be caned one hundred times and exiled to Lingnan. Emperor Xuanzong used this to warn Yao Chong.

4. Using a Scarecrow to Scare the Monkeys

The "chicken" must be borrowed, allowing for an indirect warning. For example, in cooperation with other departments, don't be timid; show your strength. If necessary, use someone else's resources to warn your own subordinates.

During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, some barbarian tribes refused to submit to his rule. After Yuanzhen took office as governor, he feasted dozens of barbarian leaders. During the banquet, he had them watch an archery competition. Among the twenty-odd participants was a death row inmate who didn't know how to shoot. Everyone else hit their targets, but the inmate missed every shot. Yuanzhen was furious and ordered his immediate execution. The leaders were terrified.

5. Creating a Pretext

Directly criticizing or punishing someone can be seen as vindictive. Establish clear rules and boundaries first. If they disobey, then disciplinary action is justified. This ensures fairness and prevents speculation.

When Zhuge Liang first started, Liu Bei entrusted him with important responsibilities, which Guan Yu and Zhang Fei resented. Zhuge Liang calmly set a trap for Guan Yu. During the Battle of Red Cliffs, he had Guan Yu guard Huarong Road and made him sign a military order. Guan Yu fell for the trap and impulsively released Cao Cao. Zhuge Liang then used this against him, and he dared not disobey again.

6. Using Someone Else's Knife

If the subordinate complies, stop there. If they remain defiant, use someone else to deal with them. For example, give them a difficult task; if they fail, they will face consequences. Or, assign them to someone with a volatile temper.

The Three Kingdoms scholar祢衡 was talented but arrogant and sarcastic. He disrespected Cao Cao. He once insulted Cao Cao by beating a drum, causing Cao Cao to lose face. Knowing that Liu Biao had a volatile temper, Cao Cao sent 祢衡 to Jingzhou to persuade Liu Biao to surrender. This allowed Cao Cao to get rid of 祢衡 without bearing the blame of killing a scholar. 祢衡 repeated his behavior and was killed by Liu Biao's general Huang Zu.