How to Deal With Toxic High Achievers

How do you handle an employee who’s a top performer but toxic to everyone around them? It can be a tough combination, but it isn’t all that uncommon. In fact, it’s often partly because certain personalities excel at their jobs–and know it–that they become so difficult to work with. Needless to say, these “toxic achievers” pose a serious dilemma for business owners, managers, and colleagues. On the one hand, they get the job done–quickly and usually better than their peers. They look great on paper. But they cause problems in the way they interact with others. They’re arrogant, prone to starting conflicts, and tend to push for personal exceptions to company policies. So what do you do?