As a manager, it is your job to ensure that the work gets done effectively. Coaching and discipline are unpleasant tasks. However, it must be a part of your everyday job duties. Here are some common mistakes managers make in handling poor performers.
Ignore the problem.
Count on peer pressure to correct sub-standard performance. This rarely works and the staff grumbles about the ineffective way the issue is being dealt with.
Have a group meeting.
Instead of dealing directly with the problem employee, a meeting of the work group is held and standards of performance are repeated with the hope that the slacker will get the hint. This is a waste of time for your "A" players and the slacker rarely gets the hint.
Transfer the slacker.
When the slacker applies for a job in another department, the supervisor gives the employee rave reviews about their work habits. When the transfer is made, one supervisor gives a sigh of relief and the other just sighs.
Delegate discipline to a coworker.
Let the person do your 'dirty work'. This is not fair to the trusted employee nor is it fair to the slacker.
Lay off the problem child.
A supervisor knows there is not enough documentation to terminate the individual for cause and chickens out by informing that employee that their position has been eliminated. A month or two later a new employee is hired. The next thing you may be looking at is a charge of discrimination from the former employee.
So how do you improve the performance of your "B" and "C" players and not drive away the 'stars' or trusted "A" players?
First you need to have measurable standards. So, when an employee is not meeting those standards, it is easy to figure out. Example: a shipping clerk who has to process 25 shipments per day. If the employee is only processing 20 a day, the standard is not being met. Then you must take immediate action.
Second, you must clearly communicate regularly what you expect from your people and why the expectations are important. Perhaps the problem employee is not aware of how her performance affects others on the team or in other departments.
Finally, always be fair and consistent in the way you handle performance problems. Fairness in that everyone should be given a chance to improve. Consistency in that you don't play favorites ? that means giving some people more leeway than others.
An effective leader not only establishes goals, delegates work, but also does not disappears until it's time for the yearly performance appraisal. She also coaches and provides regular performance feedback to everyone ? the stars, the slackers, and the misfits.
Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.
Charles Petrie, from Stanford, released a short article entitled "The... Read More
Everyone involved in running a business from the smallest start-up... Read More
It was 7:30 on a Saturday morning, and I was... Read More
Have you noticed that some sound ideas get bad publicity?... Read More
In numerous programs I've conducted on performance appraisals, with Human... Read More
This module focuses on the basics of Knowledge Mapping, its... Read More
How you run your business is, of course your business.... Read More
My mechanic has me trained. When I take my car... Read More
So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten... Read More
Note: This article was written for a internet business site.... Read More
Yesterday I look at my calendar and saw that my... Read More
What really amazes me, with all the personal and professional... Read More
If it's so simple, why don't managers all over the... Read More
In these days of restricted head count and tight budgets,... Read More
In my book Talking Points: 25 Tips for Clear, Credible... Read More
Ethics - in a profession or trade - is that... Read More
Q: I started my small business about a year ago... Read More
Use this check list to assess your communication skills.Focus* Do... Read More
Too many managers waste both time and energy performing tasks... Read More
Over 3 of my meetings with 3 business owners last... Read More
Not long ago I was asked to come out and... Read More
Let me repeat a story I heard many years ago... Read More
Recruiting and hiring are often done in haste, leaving the... Read More
Test your assumptions about everything.Assumptions have a way of creeping... Read More
One of the first things I look at when I... Read More
Certain processes enhance creative output and others enhance innovative output.... Read More
Today's successful organizations are the ones which carry on open... Read More
Don't Let Your Measurements Mislead You ... Read More
One of my earliest childhood memories is watching Lew Alcindor... Read More
Having to manage a difficult employee is never fun and... Read More
A recent Washington Post article, described the life of temporary... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
You're on your organization's diversity committee. You have the best... Read More
So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten... Read More
As a result of the dot com meltdown and the... Read More
Excess capacity in an automobile plant at Ford, Chrysler, Toyota,... Read More
Have you ever heard yourself say to a team member... Read More
As an entrepreneur, hiring an expert can be one of... Read More
Most people just want to be appreciated. If you're a... Read More
It's great to be multi-skilled?be able to type your own... Read More
1. No vision. Successful businesses have a clear vision or... Read More
Human Resource Communications and Corporate Communications ? are they one... Read More
Whether your company holds one meeting a week or dozens... Read More
The company decided to develop and implement an improvement program.... Read More
The Cash to Cash Cycle Part Four of SeriesNext: Complete... Read More
This article relates to the Career Opportunity competency, commonly evaluated... Read More
Tips for Getting the Most From Your Conference Investment All... Read More
Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone is... Read More
What would happen if the personal assistants in your organisation... Read More
Training managers use many of the same interpersonal and analytical... Read More
Here are 10 subjects that academia should be teaching their... Read More
"Become the Squeaky Wheel", a new book just published, explains... Read More
ACCOUNTABILITY: Delegation is not complete unless subordinates are held accountable... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Have you ever worked with someone who always seemed to... Read More
Five monkeys were placed in a cage. A banana was... Read More
We all spend time on planning vacations. If it's not... Read More
We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and... Read More
Many retailers do not have good internal controls in place... Read More
Ten or so years ago, an international consultant, specializing in... Read More
TEAM DECISION MAKING: Managers who invite participation believe that people... Read More
Imagine for a moment this scenario from a frustrated Senior... Read More
Ever feel that all the lawyers in thh Country need... Read More
Why do managers create low morale as a product of... Read More
Fast Relief for Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 ComplianceSection 404 of... Read More
Business Management |