A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, and Other Workplace Demons

Chapter 3. Prima Donna

Sometimes a promotion can unleash the inner prima donna, such as when a previously well-performing employee is suddenly thrust into a supervisory or management position. It’s as if the rush of power becomes intoxicating, and the person loves being in charge. He or she relishes the opportunity to now be the one pulling the strings and gaining admiration and love from others for what he or she can do. The situation is a little like that of the opera prima donna, who has become the center of attention and loves the starring and commanding role.

That’s the situation Vince, who ran a small hospital, faced when he promoted Vivian, one of his nurses, to be a shift supervisor. Before her promotion, Vivian had been an excellent nurse, ...