The first step to take when an employee is underperforming
I hope your holidays were restful. I've been planning and scheming for a while now and I'm excited to share this new look with you.
Welcome to the HR Made Simple Newsletter!
I'm kicking it off with a question I'm getting frequently right now:
What's the first step I should take when an employee is underperforming?
When a team member is underperforming, as leaders, first we need to look inward. There are a few questions to ask yourself, and they fall into three categories: competency, significance, and execution.
Competency
Do they have the skills needed for the job?
Have they received the right training?
Do they have the talent for the job?
Significance
Do they understand their own role?
Have they received the right information and communication to complete the tasks/project?
Do they have a clear sense of priorities and how this fits within the larger context?
Execution
Do they have the right level of responsibility and accountability to do the job?
Are they dedicating enough resources to the job?
Do they understand the organization's culture and how it impacts their role?
Here's where I may make a few of you mad. (But you know I mean this with love! 🥳)
If you answered no to any of the above questions, it's a you problem, not a them problem.
Here's what I mean by that - any of the above reasons for underperformance are the leader's responsibility, not the employee's.
The reality is, many causes of underperformance are directly linked to the leader's responsibilities. It's essential for you, as a leader, to first address the factors within your control. This means ensuring that you're providing adequate training, clear communication, and the right cultural environment for your team to thrive.
Effective leadership is not just about managing tasks, but is also about building the environment where each member of the team has the opportunity to perform at their best.
In order to enable our teams' success, sometimes we have to reevaluate and adjust our approach.
Need help with the next steps after this? Let me know and I’ll send you some tips.
