What do you do when an employee is struggling?
Part 1
What do you do when an employee is struggling to get the job done?
Tell them to shape up, the work needs to be better
Ask if there’s some way you can help, at least the first time
Try to leave them alone to figure it out
Connect them with a co-worker or buddy
Some other option?
We all have different approaches.
How successful is your approach? No, really.
It’s helpful to have an honest reflection on this question because what ends up happening with most employees who employers don’t know are struggling or don’t know how to help?
They leave.
Or, sometimes worse yet,
they stay without the proper support and guidance,
are nervous or depressed in their roles,
make preventable mistakes when they could ask answerable questions,
and damage the work an organization is doing, usually unintentionally.
For example, let’s say you asked a newish staff member to do a presentation for the team (of 8) on data from the last quarter. They have up to 30 minutes at the next team meeting to show it.
You’ve told your team you’re not a micromanager–because everyone hates being micromanaged–and to come to you with questions only after trying to figure things out themselves.
You hear nothing. Then the team meeting arrives. You’ve sent out the agenda beforehand, and it’s their turn to present after announcements…
Their “presentation” is a handout. It describes the data from last quarter, but doesn’t show anything visually. They do print it out and hand it out, but people have no idea what they should be taking away. After about 8 minutes the person stops talking, and asks if anyone has questions.
Silence.
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The first dilemma–What kind of feedback do you give them in front of the whole team, if any?….
