Managing Performance: Don?t Let Slackers Bring Down Your ?A? Players
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.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:47:06 GMT Harrington wins 2nd straight British Open - The Associated Press The Associated Press - SOUTHPORT, England (AP) - Padraig Harrington has won his second straight British Open, overtaking 53-year-old Greg Norman and fending off Ian Poulter. Video: Greg Norman Leads British Open After 3 Rounds Harrington wins British Open, Norman ties for third Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:51:07 GMT Salmon and steelhead are threatened by California's water system ... - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Check out Times staff writer Eric Bailey's story today on another late-Friday decision by a federal judge. US District Judge Oliver W. Wanger of Fresno said in a 118-page opinion that the "Central Valley's winter- and spring-run salmon, as well as the ... Judge Acknowledges Threat to California's Salmon and Steelhead Salmon threatened with extinction, judge says Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:30:35 GMT Give Hamm a hand, he's going to Beijing - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Give Paul Hamm a hand. And a plane ticket to Beijing. The Olympic champion will get to defend his title in China thanks to a performance Saturday that ended any doubt about whether his broken right hand has healed. Paul Hamm remains part of US men's gymnastics team Hand Healed, Gymnast Hamm Headed to China Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:50:45 GMT As 'Mamma Mia' movie opens, fans cross age groups - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY GINA SALAMONE 'The only reason I go into the Guy and Gallard right by my office is because they play ABBA all the time,' says Justyna Zajac, 25. 'Mamma Mia!': Gotta Love It, Like It or Not 'Mamma Mia' Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:13:43 GMT NYC chain restaurants posting calories on menus - Reuters
Reuters - By Edith Honan NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new rule requiring New York chain restaurants to post calorie information on their menus took effect on Friday, marking a first for a US city. Video: NYC Restaurant Chains Post Calorie Info Restaurants That Lack Calorie Counts Now Face Fines Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:18:27 GMT The Search For Elusive Holy Grail Of HIV Vaccine .....Continues - RTT News
RTT News - (RTTNews) - The quarter-century-long quest for the Holy Grail of HIV vaccine has suffered yet another major setback. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or NIAID , a part of the National Institutes of Health or NIH on Thursday ... Plans for Human Trial of HIV Vaccine Canceled US Scraps Plan to Test AIDS Vaccine Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:20:03 GMT Batman’s ‘Dark Night’ Sets Weekend Record - New York Times New York Times - By MICHAEL CIEPLY LOS ANGELES - Fevered fans pushed “The Dark Knight,” the sixth in Warner Brothers’ series of “Batman” movies, to record three-day ticket sales of $155.3 million over the weekend, shoring up what so far had been a wobbly year at the ... Batman beats up Spider-Man at box office 'Dark Knight' topples Spidey for biggest film opening Publ.Date : Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:27:06 GMT RSS Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Ten Money Saving Tips for Print ManagersDespite their stated desire... Read More If you are an executive, you may sometimes feel like... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More As an experienced manager, I can announce without a doubt... Read More How you run your business is, of course your business.... Read More People talk to me about making personal and professional changes... Read More Wouldn't it be great if we got get the cheapest... Read More At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More If you run a business, you are sure to have... Read More 1. What is an Issue?An issue is an incident, circumstance,... Read More Often, collaborating documents in a team or in a business... Read More You can't build a reputation on what you are "going"... Read More How do you as a manager, supervisor or team leader... Read More This article relates to the Manager/Supervisor competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters... Read More People in leading positions are often in a dilemma: on... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More It's all very well having a flashy (and expensive) advertising... Read More Communicate! Don't leave you key stakeholders guessing.We are generally not... Read More Sometimes, I harbour a suspicion that Dante was a Financial... Read More OVERCOMING FEAR OF FIRING "It was obvious that this employee... Read More Every business must strive to provide quality products and services... Read More Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More Did you know there are 5 types of... Read More
Adsense
websites
Print Buying Consultant
How to Deal With Salespeople
Creativity and Innovation Management ? Money Doesnt Do It
Rules for Running a Meeting
Be a Leader - The Importance of Going Home Early!
Focus On the Prize
The Cheapest, Forget It !
Biometrics and ?Return On Investment?
Innovation Management ? smart people dont necessarily produce great ideas
Selecting A Collection Agency
Issue Management Methodology for Tracking Project Issues
Collaboration: 3 Keys to Keeping Your Documents from Getting Lost in the Shuffle
A Journey of a Thousand Miles
Hire Winners: Ask the Right Questions
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: A New Managers Tale
A Leadership Lesson: Two Guys With Guns
CEOs Are Great, Top CEOs Are Greater
Innovation Management ? Time to Market or Time to Success?
Improving Your Inter-Company Communications At No Cost
Problem-Solving Success Tip: Dont Leave Your Key Stakeholders Guessing
The Inferno of the Finance Director
How to Overcome Your Fear of Firing
How to Enhance Quality in Your Business
Building Bridges of Communication
Minimising Conflict With Effective Communication
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: Team Dynamics and Communication
This article relates to the Team Dynamics competency, which evaluates... Read More
Lessons From Innovative Companies
What do the companies 3M, Polaroid, and Walt Disney have... Read More
Warning! Meeting In Progress; May Be Hazardous To Your Career
There ought to be a sign posted on every closed... Read More
Islam in the Workplace
Suggested practice for HR personnelMuslims now form one of the... Read More
Creativity and Innovation Management ? Feasibility
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Cheat Sheet; Understanding The MSDS and Your Obligations In The Workplace To Employees
MSDS SHEETSMSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheets. MSDS sheets... Read More
I Cant Use This Approach Unless My Boss Does - Power, Accountability, and Consequences
People who work with us often struggle with this dilemma:... Read More
What 80% of Businesses Don?t Know: Tips for Improving Your Working Capital Management
What is the number one way to prevent failure in... Read More
Sarbanes Oxley 404 Compliance - How Nov. 15, 2004 Deadline Affects You
Fast Relief for Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 ComplianceSection 404 of... Read More
Innovation Management ? the power of decision makers
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Recycling, Reverse Logistics and?..Candy
The candy box is a container for all your favourite... Read More
Preparing For ISO 9001 2000 Registration
The steps need to be taken to prepare an organization... Read More
Leadership Skills Means Turnover is Not a Problem
"Ha!" you say. "For someone to make a statement like... Read More
Its All About The Customers, Baby
If you want to ensure a steady stream of customers... Read More
The Top 5 Signals That Your Business Is Running You
Starting your own business is a great undertaking but running... Read More
Help for the Meeting-Weary Manager
Most of us have found ourselves working on a team... Read More
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Finding The Perfect Balance
This article relates to the Work/Life Balance competency, which investigates... Read More
Character: Is It Necessary In Leadership? (Part One)
We know character when we see it, but what exactly... Read More
Delegation: When to Delegate, Who to Delegate to
There are some very simple guides for delegation.Most people delegate... Read More
The Leaders Fallacy May Be Howard Deans Undoing
Howard Dean's tenure as chairman of the Democratic National Committee... Read More
Safety Policy Sample Outline
Writing a safety manual is a tough job and most... Read More
Why Half of All Mergers Fail After the Honeymoon Ends
Marriages and corporate mergers in America have at least one... Read More
Preventative Maintenance of Company Delivery Vehicles
If you have company delivery vehicles at your small or... Read More
Turnover is Not a Problem
"Ha!" you say. "For someone to make a statement like... Read More
Sharing the Reins: 10 Reasons To Sell Your Company To Your Employees
In 1987 I sold my business, South Mountain Company, to... Read More
Business Management |