Not all employees give their best when working, which can be problematic for managers. However, it is very important for managers to ensure that each of their employees gives their best and the company prospers together. This may seem easier said than done. Many managers struggle with the work performance of their employees, but there are some ways that can help manage this issue.
This is an update for our 2014 Article – Managing Poor Performance https://freshhrinsights.com.au/managing-poor-performance/
Ways to Manage Poor Work Performance
Here are some effective ways you can manage poor work performance and make sure productivity levels stay as high as possible.
Take Timely Actions
As a manager, it is very important for you to not let things pass by. If you see something that is not acceptable you must take action then and there so that the issue can be resolved before it becomes a bigger problem. The sooner you tell your employee what they are doing wrong and how they can improve will help you manage poor work performance.
If you do not highlight the problem right away, it is possible that your employee might not be aware that it is actually a problem. They will keep doing what they do which will affect your work performance. Addressing the problem immediately will save work performance and the overall productivity of your company.
Be Honest In Your Feedback
It can be difficult for some people to be critical of others’ work; they often try to sugarcoat or undermine the problems so that the employees do not take offence. In this case, you need to buck and be brutally honest in your feedback on your employees. As a manager, you cannot afford to have poor work performance as this can affect the productivity of your team.
When talking to your employees it is essential that you are completely honest with them about their shortcomings. If you are not honest, your employees will never know what they are doing wrong and if it is costing you productivity. When you talk to your employees you must give them a comprehensive analysis of their performance and include examples from their everyday life that can help them understand what you are talking about. This will help your employees see the issue clearly and you will be able to push some changes.
Communicate what you expect from your employees and also give your employees the tools they need that will help them live up to your expectations. When you are having a conversation with your employees, it is possible that they might have some feedback of their own. Listen to the feedback and try to understand their concerns so that you can address them easily. A mutual agreement between the two of you can help improve work performance and productivity.
Hold Your Employees Accountable
Accountability is important both for you and your employees. If you hold yourself accountable for the poor work performance of your employees then you must also hold your employees for their poor work performance. Tell your employees that you are counting on them to give their best so that the complete team and the company itself can progress. This way the employees will feel that they are important and they will be more motivated to give their best and improve their work performance
You can also hold a meeting where you clearly define all the roles each employee has to follow so that you hold each of them accountable in front of an audience. This will push your employees to be more accountable for their roles.
Tell your employees that they are accountable for their actions and will have to face the consequences if they fail to deliver. The idea of having to face consequences will push your employees to work hard and improve their poor work performance.
Take Regular Follow-Ups
When you manage poor work performance you can’t just assign roles and let your employees do as they please. You must take regular follow-ups so that you can learn what each of your employees is doing and if they are struggling with something.
With regular follow-ups, you will be able to learn which of your employees are struggling with their roles and if there is anything you can do to help them. Even if you cannot help your employees with their roles, you can still encourage them to give their best. To receive encouragement from your superiors is to get a boost which surely helps improve the work performance of employees.
Other than that, regular follow-ups can help you keep an eye on your employees to make sure that they are working hard to get the work done. Even if they weren’t with your follow up they will start working hard as they know that you are keeping a watchful eye on them.
Play to Your Employees’ Strengths
Poor work performance might not only be the fault of the employee. It might also be your fault for giving them roles they are not very good at. A manager must know what their employees can and cannot do. They should be well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their employees and when they know this, they can use it to their advantage. Managers must assign work according to the strengths of their employees. Giving your employee a role you know they can do better is to ensure that they perform their work to the best of their abilities.
Following these tips, managers can easily manage poor work performance and improve levels of productivity.
