HOW THAI GEN Y OR MILLENNIAL LEADERS DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN WORKPLACES BY USING THE EQ 5-FACTORS FRAMEWORK

Abstract

Gen Y or Millennials have been described as self-confident and value self-expression rather than self-control (Clausing, Kurtz, Prendeville, & Walt, 2003). Their characteristics seem to be self-centered, and they value fairness and equality in workplaces. Moreover, many Gen Y or Millennials has become a business owner or taken a leadership position. As a leader, there are many challenges and obstacles in managing people in the workplace to be handled effectively. One of the challenges is dealing with difficult people. Difficult people and their frustrating behavior can take a serious toll on companies, including high costs and turnover rates (Harvard business school, 2005). Therefore, the leader must take effective actions to deal with those people. Emotional Intelligence is required and plays a vital part to deal with them efficiently in workplaces according to the EQ 5- factors framework consists of Self-awareness and Self-control, Empathy, Social Expertise, Personal Influence, and Mastery of Vision. A qualitative survey has been applied to this paper to obtain the data from the interviewees by answering the questions based on the framework and sharing relevant experiences in dealing with difficult people. This research has gathered 10 focus group interviewees who considered as Gen Y or Millennials, and work in a leader position and has successful experiences in dealing with difficult people in their workplaces. Ultimately, what the author discovered from the interview has aligned with each component of the EQ 5-factors framework. In summarize, Thai gen Y or millennial leaders deal with difficult people by emphasizing on self-control, using empathy, creating harmony with difficult people, using personal influence to convince difficult people, and being optimistic towards failure or difficulty