Confronting Body Odor Issues
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- čas přidán 15. 04. 2018
- uniquedevelopment.com
This leader feeder has something kind of sensitive to talk about, it's personal hygiene and body odor. Nothing freaks out a supervisor or manager more than when they know they have to talk to somebody, or have a conversation about their personal hygiene or body odor. But really most leaders get worked up more than they need to, so I want to go through this and see what can we do to help you become more confident.
First of all, I want you to realize that body odor and personal hygiene for most people isn't something, well nobody likes to talk about it because it's embarrassing, but if you think about it most people who smell bad, or have personal hygiene issues, they're not even self-aware of that. They get so used to it. It's kind of like a houseful of cats might start to smell like cats, but the person that lives there doesn't smell it anymore. It's up to the leader now to, like most things, bring things to the employee's attention. Then that way the employee can hopefully address the situation.
Now I've found that the leader gets really psyched out about this because they feel bad for the person and they don't want to hurt the person's feelings, but often they have other people complaining about not wanting to work next to that person. First of all, many leaders want to just joke about it. I've heard of the whole like put a bar of soap on the employee's desk or in their work area hoping that they get the hint. I just need you to know that that can be more insulting and disrespectful than just having a conversation in private about it. That's going to get somebody upset is if you do something like that, or worse they still don't get the hint and then it continues.
I remember a participant in a workshop I was leading on how to give performance feedback and deliver a performance appraisal. He was getting ready to have this talk with one of the employees who had a personal hygiene body odor issue. The person was really concerned about how that would go, and he was getting worked up about it. I said, "Look, all your job is is to really bring it to the person's attention, and you'll find that they don't get as concerned as you think they will about it." Sure enough, he did do the conversation, and the person while being a bit embarrassed, really appreciated him bringing it to their attention. It ended up being resolved in a positive way.
Now if you think about it, that is probably the most difficult thing is you thinking about having this conversation. It's best if the manager makes a personal observation rather than bringing up that other coworkers have complained. It's not as good to say, "I'm hearing that you stink and nobody wants to work with you." That wouldn't be as effective as, "Hey, I walked by and I really caught a smell of your body odor that I think could be quite difficult for people to work next to you." It's going to come off as more authentic if the leader delivers that information. Now, once you sit down with the person and you let them know that, you say "Hey I've noticed this, it's something I think you need to address," you don't really have to tell them what to do. You don't have to tell them to shower more often, or brush their teeth, or something. What you need to do is bring it to their attention and then ask how could you make this a bit better in terms of your personal hygiene or body odor.
Now just like with any behavior, if after you've had one nice coaching talk where you've brought it to their attention, if it continues, you might actually have to escalate it because again, having a cohesive and cooperative work team is important to the performance in terms of productivity, safety, and quality. You as a front line leader or as a manager, step up and have those difficult conversations. You'll be probably pleasantly surprised that many of them go better than you thought that they would.
Now remember that we come on site and do front line leadership training. It's our specialty to work with supervisors, managers, and team leaders. Or, you can send people to one of our public workshops, or access some of our resources, and our videos, and our distance learning on our website at frontlineleadership.com. And if you're active on social media, reach out to us on Linked In, or also on Facebook at Frontline Leader.
Other than health issues, if a grown ass person that is working, a grown ass job doesn’t know they stink, there is no help for them. You can’t tell me that no one has ever told them in their life that they stink.
You can bet your ass I'm going to make sure that (name deleted) knows that (gender deleted) smells. Today was day one and fuck me (gender) smelled of BO. I put up with it for 5 hours. No way am I going to stay silent. The manager tomorrow is either going to help me on this or I won't be there for long.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, people who gag an entire work area with excessive cologne or perfume should get the same talking. A small amount of fragrance is good.
That is an excellent point and appreciate you sharing that!
Too much perfume or cologne gives me the worst headache and makes my eyes water.
Everyone wants to be a leader until they have to tell an employee they smell 😂 Well, here goes nothing.
Well put together. Respectful and polite tips.
Glad it was helpful!
Shoutout to this video im feeling very overwhelmed about having to have this conversation with someone at work
Yes these conversations are never easy, however they normally don’t turn out to be as difficult as we think they will be. We hope the conversation goes well.
I appreciate this video as I have to deal with an employee like this
Dg?
@@speedychicken831 lol no
have to do this Monday
Well explained and good in theory. I was expecting more like an example on how to handle that difficult conversation for example, how to break the ice and start the conversation; words to never be used, etc.
Did you ever find a good way to bring it up? I actually am dealing with this in my own home. I've been taking care of my father since my mother passed. It's not like he stopped bathing due to grieving either. He's been like this my entire life, but the fact that he sits in one spot all day now, idk, he smells worse than ever and when he opens his door in the morning I can't even breathe in the hallway. I've gotten all the things he needs to take a shower safely. He did it once in the past year. I'm so overwhelmed with frustration because I feel like how am I going to get this man to change a life long habit of not bathing? But like myself when I was a kid, my daughter doesn't want to hug on him much because of his smell. And he gets really in your face during any type of affection too so it's really unbearable. Sorry.. just at the end of my rope.
Did you ever find a good way to bring it up? I actually am dealing with this in my own home. I've been taking care of my father since my mother passed. It's not like he stopped bathing due to grieving either. He's been like this my entire life, but the fact that he sits in one spot all day now, idk, he smells worse than ever and when he opens his door in the morning I can't even breathe in the hallway. I've gotten all the things he needs to take a shower safely. He did it once in the past year. I'm so overwhelmed with frustration because I feel like how am I going to get this man to change a life long habit of not bathing? But like myself when I was a kid, my daughter doesn't want to hug on him much because of his smell. And he gets really in your face during any type of affection too so it's really unbearable. Sorry.. just at the end of my rope.
My personal hygiene is very poor people made comments that I smelled. It affected me when I was in school.When kids would say I bet you can't afford body care. Oh! you smell like fish or poor had breath which was very difficult. I was bully,bullied about it. It is how people made comments. I wish I was hard working person.
My problem is bad breath onion armpits and fishy odor.
Well you have a serious issue- too bad . Oh well
@@joycea3290Try using an Antibacterial soap, shower twice a day and use antiperspirant every day.
Did you try taking regular showers? 🤔🚿
@@joycea3290me too can you help me please
Battling body odor for a decade
@@javerventura5175 yes, sometimes!
@@javerventura5175 yes po, super pawisin! Send me an email thru tanonjendil35@gmail.com , usap tayo!
hey me too. but i have had this 4 years. its ruining my life
@@mr.t658 , here's my email: tanonjendil35@gmail.com , send me a message bro, I'll help you.
@@mr.t658 how are things now???
I tried and my coworker thought I was joking
No how do I address this
Buy them soap & deodorant
Got to also understand. It can be a medical issue. This means the person can't really help it.
😬
there has to be some type of medical solution cause what if it’s food industry worker?
It’s called noseblindness
Thanks lol
How do you tell an employee the food they heat in the microwave, a large lunch room and 100 employees, stinks up the lunchroom and half of the offices? It's usually a strong fish.
Thank you in advance. 😊
Thank you for your question and I'm sure other viewers have faced something similar. When a person's actions impact others it warrants a similar conversation as the body odor one. You could post a sign for microwave etiquette, asking people to be mindful of what they're heating up or have a discreet discussion with the exact person. I'd recommend talking to HR to see if there is anything in your employee handbook/bargaining agreement relating to this subject. HR can also be a good mediator for tough conversations.
@@unique.leadership Thank you. I admire your professionalism and appreciate your advice. Great ideas. 😊
Dogs is the worst! They sleep with their dogs but they dont wash the dogs. So they smell strongly of dog oder. They wear the same clothes for weeks on end. Their hair doesnt look like they have washed it in weeks.
Help it's a student that rides my small transite and he's in the last year of school. Do I speak with him or his parent.
body shaming
My boss said I smell lol
well gotta do something about it ! if your boss smells it so does everyone else
Take a shower or you are fired. Simple
Take a shave around the smelly parts. Use soap. Shower twice a day. Ask people do I smell. Wear clean clothes everyday. Use mints if you know your breath smells. I've done all this today except shower twice.