Reader comment: Something to keep in mind is that this employee may have a non-verbal learning disability. This is a relatively new diagnosis but is very real. People with NLD are often extremely bright but they don't have much in the way of personal skills. Basically, all the non-verbal communication that helps all of us get along is invisible to them. They may not know when a conversation has moved on, they do Reader comment:Something to keep in mind is that this employee may have a non-verbal learning disability. This is a relatively new diagnosis but is very real. People with NLD are often extremely bright but they don’t have much in the way of personal skills.Basically, all the non-verbal communication that helps all of us get along is invisible to them. They may not know when a conversation has moved on, they don’t realize how their comments affect others, personal space and sometimes personal hygiene are a mysteries to them. They are often very literal and common sayings and phrases confuse them to no end. Working in groups is one of the most stressful things that they have to live through. You can find out more at: https://www.nldline.com/– Kurt LevitanBob says: This is an important point, and in fact there’s a broader point to be made as well. A variety of emotional disorders can also lead to dysfunctional behavior, for which scolding, coaching and so on just aren’t very effective on their own.Some, like NLD, are lifelong situations to which the individual must adapt. Others, such as depression, can come on either as an episode or too gradually for even the afflicted individual to recognize.It’s one reason that if you have an employee whose behavior is out of bounds, you should think about engaging Human Resources to find out whether an intervention or an assessment is called for beyond normal management coaching. My advice: When in doubt, call them. It’s one of the most important professional services HR provides.– Bob ——– Technology Industry