Enough about toxic bosses. What about sorry workers? Yes, that’s right, sorry. Some people need training, some need coaching. But some are just plain sorry—the proverbial bad apple that spoils the barrel. And when you find bad apples, the best thing to do is throw them out, right? Well, no. Even sorry workers can be saved. Follow these steps:
1. Get wise. Good workers are often frustrated because their bosses seem oblivious to the underachievers in their midst. Satisfaction surveys and exit interviews should include questions to gauge employee perceptions of how management handles poor performers.
2. Get help. You may be a great manager in every other respect, but let’s face it: Exercising discipline means engaging in confrontation—something most people find difficult. If you’re uncomfortable tackling performance issues, ask your HR department for assistance, or seek training to develop the skills necessary to make the task less daunting.
3. Get going. Don’t let problems fester until dismissal seems the only option. As soon as you notice employees veering off course, take steps to steer them back. There’s truth in the saying that if you give people an inch, they’ll take a mile. Stop them at the inch, and you may never have to go down the longer road.
4. Get inquisitive. When counseling poor performers, don’t just tell employees what they’re doing wrong and what they should be doing instead. Ask them what’s going on. It may be easier to approach an employee if you view the situation as a mystery that needs to be solved. Perhaps the employee is undertrained. Perhaps family or health issues are taking a toll. Or perhaps the employee just needs to understand that you expect a higher level of participation
5. Get ready. Never assume that a single conversation will resolve a serious problem. No matter how productive the chat or how sure you are that the matter has been handled, take time to document the discussion. Should you decide to terminate, you’ll need to demonstrate the steps you’ve taken to resolve the problem—beginning with your first effort.
All the success!
PM in the AM
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