Leaders and Managers often ask us, 'What do you do when you have tried to coach and counsel an employee about a performance concern, and the employee has not responded?
Unfortunately, we see far too many cases where the leader hasn't, in good faith, tried to coach the employee or to put the leader's concerns into words. Often, leaders look for a quick fix alternative to what is perceived as a difficult and painful confrontation.
We have also learned from first-hand experience that management coaching is not a one-shot effort. It takes regular ongoing discussions and experiences to achieve the level of support and cooperation needed. When you have truly exhausted all your good-faith efforts to coach an employee into change, you have the right to move to the next best alternative, a coaching based solution.
In certain situations, employees have grown accustomed to and dependent on heavy authority in the workplace, or they just don't feel attached to the job or organization. We are not advocating that the leader wait for someone to pass out a permission slip to try a different approach; rather, the leader should tell the employee that the management coaching approach hasn't worked and it is time to take a different path. Probably the best thing a leader can do is literally call a time-out, pull back, and reexamine the entire interpersonal/working contract or agreement with the employee. The leader needs to reconsider the basic assumptions and understanding about the employee's role and terms of employment in the organization. This is a major renegotiation effort.
It is very possible that the job demands or personal expectations and objectives of the employee or leader have changed sufficiently that a real pressure point has been created in the leader/employee relationship. Remember, a social contract between a leader and employee works as long as there is "mutual consent and valid consideration" for both parties. If a new agreement and shared vision of common goals can be reached, then a new state of leader/employee stability and equilibrium will be achieved. If not, the leader and employee should begin to explore and plan a way to separate effectively.
Some leaders say they can't get along without the employee. No problem ? you simply need to look for creative ways to restructure the employee's job or reassign or retrain the employee to cut your losses and limit your exposure. You may consider "down-sizing" the employee's role to fit the needs of the situation.
Another strategy is to pursue a path or formal disciplinary or probationary action. Obviously this is riskier; it may be a path of no return in the sense that cultivating a healthy relationship in a climate of hostility and possible resentment, anger, and embarrassment over disciplinary action is difficult. You may be forced to pursue this path to the unpleasant end of a separation, the ultimate challenge for any leader.
The other thing you may consider is to take two aspirin, grin and bear it, and go on lots of short vacations.
If you would like to learn more about CMOE's 27 years of management coaching research and experience, please contact a Regional Manager at (888)262-2499.
To learn more why organizations such as Pfizer, Chevron, Texaco, Samsung, and others have chosen CMOE please visit their website.
Here's a brief story I encountered while leaving Newark International... Read More
It's great to be multi-skilled?be able to type your own... Read More
The following nursing home collections report outlines 11 guidelines you... Read More
We all see it . . . business markets are... Read More
Answer: Starting one.Most of us realize that there is probably... Read More
With the advancement of computer simulators, anybody can repeat all... Read More
Ineffective communication is a major, yet avoidable, obstacle to business... Read More
Goals are critically important for the success of a meeting.... Read More
Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money... Read More
Whoever said that being a meeting planner was easy, lied!... Read More
A leader's role is to focus on those areas of... Read More
The permissive and participatory conduct which most employees take for... Read More
A man drives down the highway each day on his... Read More
Meriwether Lewis set the stage for the Corps of Discovery's... Read More
Are you planning your business or are you... Read More
The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more important... Read More
Everyday a business owner, CEO, or manager somewhere is complaining... Read More
Encouraged by the recognition, Sarah Lewsiton went home from work... Read More
IntroductionAre you looking for a way to gain control of... Read More
There are many reasons why good employees quit and go... Read More
Becoming a manager for the first time can be an... Read More
Imagine that you're a sports coach and you need a... Read More
Once working and focused in tune with what they do... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Some time ago we had the privilege of working with... Read More
One of the hardest things I had discovered running my... Read More
One of the major benefits, if not THE benefit of... Read More
People are empowered when they are given the authority and... Read More
Every organization is looking for the holy grail of performance... Read More
This article was originally called "Do You Need a Business... Read More
"Become the Squeaky Wheel", a new book just published, explains... Read More
Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More
Following on from the last edition of The Organised Times... Read More
In our current world of rapid and amazing technological advances,... Read More
When asked what part of their job they find a... Read More
Consequences of Not Giving Effective FeedbackLet's take a look at... Read More
Did you know that an airplane in flight is off... Read More
After a full week of training, you are still a... Read More
Conflict is a fact of life for all of us,... Read More
Positive versus Negative WorkplacesWe have all worked in places where... Read More
Some people make decisions without any difficulty, while others struggle.... Read More
Everyday a business owner, CEO, or manager somewhere is complaining... Read More
Use your time for problems that are truly important.Hard as... Read More
The practice of outsourcing business processes has long been subject... Read More
1. Create a filing system with broad categories such as... Read More
Recognizing good performance through praise or other positive action is... Read More
What is the Process Approach to Quality?The ISO 9001 2000... 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
There is a saying about management that suggests some managers... Read More
Becoming a manager for the first time can be an... Read More
Mary Poppins describes a style of management which has for... Read More
Okay, be honest!Are you guilty of sticking in a few... Read More
Hiring good people is only half the battle. The other... Read More
We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and... Read More
Outsourcing is when you hire outside professionals or services to... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
People in leading positions are often in a dilemma: on... Read More
The steps need to be taken to prepare an organization... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Suggested practice for HR personnelMuslims now form one of the... Read More
One of the greatest obstacles to progress can often be... Read More
Judgment is the process of forming an opinion of something... Read More
Meriwether Lewis set the stage for the Corps of Discovery's... Read More
Swiftness is the key to collecting past due commercial accounts... Read More
A bold title, don't you think? I mean, change is... Read More
Business Management |