.png)
So you have an employee who is not quite making the grade. They are missing some little details, or deadlines, or not communicating effectively on what they need to get the job done. It’s certainly not enough to end their employment, but it’s enough that you are having to double or triple check their work which is causing tension on both sides.
So what is really going on here?
As a manager, it’s your job to make sure that the output is what it should be, no matter what. The buck stops there. We all come to work and are expected to do the job and meet the requirements of the job. You have options in how to handle this, but you have to handle it with a focus on elevating that work and getting that employee back to their A game.
But as a leader, you need to move beyond the task at hand and get to the heart of the matter. What is really going on with this employee that is causing them to not get the job done? Do they not feel adequately trained or supported to handle the tasks at hand? Are they unmotivated by the work? Or is something else going on behind the scenes to cause them to be distracted?
No matter what the cause, a great leader recognizes the people behind the act – even though they may not be living up to expectations – and that they are still people, coming to work doing the best that they can in that moment. Once you recognize or remember that there is a person behind the work, you will be able to empower them to do more by supporting that area of need in a more compelling way.
Need tips on how to support them in moving beyond what is blocking them? Contact us today.
Thank you to Susan Johnson for these great words of wisdom.