Underperforming Employees

By: A Staff Writer

Updated on: Oct 25, 2024

Difficult Conversations Made Easier 😮‍💨

Dealing with underperformers sucks. But ignoring it costs you more. Here’s how to handle it head-on.

• Documentation is Your Friend: Specific examples of missed deadlines, poor quality work, etc.
• Clear Expectations First: Were they properly trained, are the goals even achievable? Be fair.
• Direct, But Human: Compassionate candor is key: describe the behavior, its impact, and the needed change.
• Support + Accountability: Offer resources, a performance improvement plan, but with clear consequences too.
• Get HR Help Early: Especially if termination is possible, legal mistakes are costly, especially for small biz.
• Protect Team Morale: An underperformer drags everyone down, addressing it proactively is the right move.

Avoiding tough conversations about poor performance always backfires in the long run.