The Punitive Approach to Marginal Performers

MANAGING A MARGINAL PERFORMER: Often a marginal performer, even after therapeutic counseling, may not understand that his or her work is seen as substandard. The manager will have to ask the employee directly how the performance could be improved. If the manager still meets with resistance or avoidance, as a last resort he or she will have to give suggestions.

THE PUNITIVE APPROACH: If the unsatisfactory performer refuses to commit to a self-proposed improvement program, or belligerently denies that a problem exists, the manager has only coercion or intimidation left as options. Although the punitive approach seldom works, situations under which it is the sole recourse do exist. Of the remaining three to five percent who are problem employees, only a very small percent fail to respond to the therapeutic counseling sessions. Perhaps one percent of them creates such serious disciplinary problems that they force their supervisor to use this technique. But, curiously enough, if the manager does not deal effectively with those very few people who continually violate the rules, the employee's dissatisfaction and disrespect will very likely spread and infect others.

SEEKING CORRECTIVE ACTION: The following are general guidelines to apply in seeking corrective action through disciplinary procedures. The manager should? 1. Make instructions simple and understandable. 2. Know the rules. 3. Gather all relevant facts. 4. Move in promptly on violations. 5. Take into account the seriousness of an offense as well as any mitigating circumstances. 6. Give the employee an opportunity to explain his or her position 7. Determine what action to take. 8. Avoid any kind of physical control. 9. Observe all contractual procedures. 10. Keep records of actions taken.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:08:19 GMT Spa Update: Hamilton Penalty Hands Win to Massa - AutoWeek Times Online Spa Update: Hamilton Penalty Hands Win to Massa AutoWeek - 1 hour ago By NIGEL ROEBUCK A drive-through penalty is the punishment for almost causing a collision in the pits. We know this because Bruno Senna was thus punished in the GP2 Series race at Spa-Francorchamps, and it cost him the race. Massa declared winner of Belgian GP The Associated Press Raikkonen's title hopes doused by Hamilton at Spa Motorsport.com International Herald Tribune - The Canadian Press - BBC Sport - CNN International all 2,193 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:46:22 GMT Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 - Washington Post Seattle Post Intelligencer Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 Washington Post - 3 hours ago On the heels of the huge nationwide salmonella outbreak that caused more than 1400 illnesses from Mexican peppers, a regional Oregon alfalfa sprout distributor has recalled its product in Oregon and Washington state after the sprouts were linked to 13 ... Salmonellosis outbreak prompts sprout recall Forbes Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts Seattle Post Intelligencer TheMedGuru - Seattle Times - eFluxMedia - HeraldNet all 81 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:31:13 GMT 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice - Variety Variety 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice Variety - 1 hour ago By NICK VIVARELLI Darren Aronofsky drama “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke as washed out pro wrestler Randy (the Ram) Robinson, in comeback mode both on and off the screen, pinned down the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion. Is Evan Rachel Wood dropkicking Marilyn Manson for Mickey Rourke? Los Angeles Times A Glance at 'The Wrestler' Cinematical Washington Post - Hollywood Reporter - eFluxMedia - San Jose Mercury News all 671 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:55:44 GMT India a step closer to nuclear trade - Christian Science Monitor Washington Post India a step closer to nuclear trade Christian Science Monitor - 3 hours ago The Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed Saturday to lift a 34-year ban on selling nuclear technology to India, even though it hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. India secures controversial access to nuclear technology Telegraph.co.uk US Congress signals it will clear N-deal Times of India Hindu - Reuters South Africa - Washington Post - BBC News all 2,295 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:01:15 GMT Side events bring out celebs in advance of VMAs - The Associated Press Washington Post Side events bring out celebs in advance of VMAs The Associated Press - 57 minutes ago LOS ANGELES (AP) - Though the MTV Video Music Awards are the main event in town this weekend, some celebrities are satisfied enough with the side activities connected to the extravaganza. Britney 'Getting an Opportunity to Start Over' at VMAs People Magazine Brand and Spears have been promoting the awards on MTV BBC News Access Hollywood - Hollywood Today Newsmagazine - eFluxMedia - Los Angeles Times all 1,761 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:10:38 GMT Hurricane, at Category 4, Heads Toward Cuba - New York Times Canada.com Hurricane, at Category 4, Heads Toward Cuba New York Times - 3 hours ago By MARIA NEWMAN Hurricane Ike grew into a bigger threat to Florida and the Gulf Coast Sunday as it roared through the Bahamas mid-morning, with forecasters expecting it to gain in strength as it approaches Cuba. Video: Raw Video: Ike Pounds Turks and Caicos AssociatedPress Powerful Hurricane Ike looms as trouble for Gulf The Associated Press AFP - Forbes - Los Angeles Times - Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck all 4,192 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:52:07 GMT Michigan spared sting of West Nile - Detroit Free Press LAist Michigan spared sting of West Nile Detroit Free Press - 12 hours ago BY SHERI McWHIRTER • RECORD-EAGLE • September 7, 2008 TRAVERSE CITY -- West Nile virus hasn't seriously bitten Michigan this year and seems to have spared the state's northern reaches. Yes, the mosquitoes were nasty this summer Yakima Herald-Republic Aerial survey being conducted to find mosquito breeding grounds San Jose Mercury News Lower Hudson Journal news - San Francisco Chronicle - Shelbyville News - Los Angeles Times all 361 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:53:44 GMT Make Money With Affiliate Data Feeds Amazon RSS Feed Generator

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Resolve Differences

Resolving conflict doesn't come easily to too many people. Most... Read More

Five Defining Characteristics of Great CEOs

1. Personal insight. Great CEOs are great leaders. They know... Read More

Protect Your Organizations Proprietary Information

The other day one of our overseas clients called in... Read More

Teamwork Training: Learning to Build a Successful Team

Teamwork is a process that can be experienced outdoors and... Read More

Todays Employees and Their New Needs: What You Need to Know

Today's employees are not only interested in security or in... Read More

Project Management - The Traveling Product Manager

Various studies ? and common sense ? indicate that involving... Read More

Three Foundation Stones for Building Organizational Integrity

When the stock market crashed in 1929, there were a... Read More

Examining the Relationship Between Employee Satisfaction and Customer Satisfaction

Researchers have undertaken numerous studies to look at the connection... Read More

Change Management: Avoid Havoc In Very Uncertain Times

Escalating gas prices...tensions and turmoil in the Middle East...a struggling... Read More

The Leadership Imperative: Making Your Leadership Your Life

Nearly all leaders I've encountered are underachievers. They're getting a... Read More

The Red Phone - Management Consulting in 30 Seconds or Less

Modern business faces complex problems; management often calls upon highly-specialized... Read More

Dialogue vs. Discussion

Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone is... Read More

Narcissism in the Boardroom

The perpetrators of the recent spate of financial frauds in... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: The Responsibility for Job Security

This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated... Read More

Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Earn a Profit

Most people treat meetings as a free resource that can... Read More

It?s Not All About Cheese: The Missing Component in Employee Development (Part 2)

In part one of this article I told you about... Read More

5 Ways of Increasing Business Profits

The economy may finally be turning around and showing signs... Read More

Interviewing Applicants Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth

1st Fact: Interviewing applicants is the most common way companies... Read More

Are You Prepared for a Disaster?

Yesterday I look at my calendar and saw that my... Read More

Business Leadership Skills - Managing the Human Being Behind the Business

Managing the Human Being Behind the Business It's... Read More

Think Twice Before Selling ROI

When we're selling to business people, our value proposition has... Read More

How Businesses Can Stop Wallowing in Bad Debt and Prevent It in the Future

"Become the Squeaky Wheel", a new book just published, explains... Read More

Top Ten Things About Creating a Business Vision

To visualise where you are going, is deeper and more... Read More

Warning! Meeting In Progress; May Be Hazardous To Your Career

There ought to be a sign posted on every closed... Read More

The Fairness of Office Politics... Integrity and Political Motivation!

I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics... Read More