The document discusses common bad habits or "flawed stars" that employees can exhibit and provides strategies for addressing each type. It identifies six primary patterns: The Hero, The Meritocrat, The Bulldozer, The Pessimist, The Rebel, and The Home Run Hitter. For each type, the document describes their definition, lists considerations for determining if change efforts are worthwhile, and provides recommendations for changing their behavior through heightened awareness, feedback, mentorship, and coaching. It concludes by suggesting managers identify flawed stars using DISC profiles to more effectively address their needs, fears, and strengths.

1. Managing Away Bad Habits
9/00 HBR Article
by James Waldroop & Timothy Butler

2. Bad Habits Root Causes
Inability to understand world from others perspective.
Failure to recognize when/how to use power.
Failure to come to terms with authority.
Negative self-image.

3. 6 Primary Patterns of Flawed Stars
The Hero
The Meritocrat
The Bulldozer
The Pessimist
The Rebel
The Home Run Hitter

4. Is It Worth the Effort?
1. Is the person valuable enough to warrant the
investment?
2. Are you the right person to help the employee
change?
3. Can you make enough time to provide feedback as
necessary?

5. Dealing with The Hero
Definition: Always pushes self & others too hard.
Changing:
Make checklist of warning signs, heighten awareness.
Emphasize winning war strategically, not every battle.
Respect other’s private time.
Observe, provide timely feedback, mentor, coach.

6. Dealing with The Meritocrat
Definition: Believes world is objective, ignores politics.
Changing:
• Offer sympathy, understanding.
• Pick battles where they can perform, win.
• Work on understanding team members and their
differences.
• Observe, provide timely feedback, mentor, coach.

7. Dealing with The Bulldozer
Definition: Runs roughshod over people.
Changing:
• Be as strong as the Bulldozer with them.
• Use harsh real possibilities – being fired.
• Work on building respect of other’s abilities, pace.
• Observe, provide timely feedback, mentor, coach.

8. Dealing with The Pessimist
Definition: Focused on downside of every change, and
what can go wrong.
Changing:
• Ensure their awareness of your support.
• Teach how to evaluate risks with upsides.
• Offer protection for failure.
• Observe, provide timely feedback, mentor, coach.

9. Dealing with The Rebel
Definition: Automatically fights authority, convention.
Changing:
• Refuse to play favorite tug-of-war games.
• Raise awareness of negatively perceived behavior.
• Raise awareness of competitive & opponent behavior
to provide politically correct solutions.
• Observe, provide timely feedback, mentor, coach.

10. Dealing with The Home Run Hitter
Definition: Tries to do too much too soon.
Changing:
• Make aware of appreciation for efforts.
• Groom for long term, slower pace to avoid burnout of
them and others.
• Understand others priorities, pace, interactive
behaviors.
• Observe, provide timely feedback, mentor, coach.

11. Compare Flawed Stars with
D.i.S.C. Profiles
Identify your organization’s flawed stars with reverse
D.i.S.C. profiles.
Use D.i.S.C. profiles to manage more effectively by
addressing their needs, fears, strengths.