Following a recent promotion, an employee becomes very irritable and frequently loses his temper. Of the following, the most advisable action of the employee's supervisor to take first is to:

• A. Have the employee take a supervisor training course
• B. Suggest that the employee get counseling or similar help
• C. Try to determine the reason for the employee's irritability
• D. Warn the employee that he may be demoted to his former position

Answer: (C)

When a worker’s behavior changes after a promotion, the first move is to gather information by talking with them to understand what’s really going on. Open, supportive questioning helps uncover whether the irritability comes from unclear new responsibilities, a heavier workload or different expectations, skill gaps, or personal stress. That understanding guides the next steps—whether it’s clarifying duties, providing targeted training, offering coaching, or connecting them with counseling—so you match the solution to the actual cause rather than applying a blanket fix or punishment. Jumping straight to counseling, training, or threats of demotion without identifying the root issue can misdirect resources and undermine trust. So, the initial action should be to determine the reason for the irritability.