If a New Hire Is Struggling, Give Them a Clear Plan to Improve

What do you do if a new hire is struggling in their role, and even dragging down your team? Prepare for a direct, and uncomfortable, conversation. The employee needs to know exactly how they're failing to meet expectations, so they can make the necessary changes. Share your concerns and ask for their point of view about what’s been happening. The employee may be grateful for the opportunity to clear the air and work on a solution together. You can start off by saying something like, “Boris, I want to talk about the last few weeks. You’re on track in some ways, but we need to make some adjustments.” Then give clear, specific feedback on how the employee should improve. Once you’ve done this, watch how the person responds. If you don’t see significant effort almost immediately, and real improvement over the next three to six months, you may have to take more-serious action.

Adapted from "What to Do When You Realize You Made a Bad Hire," by Liz Kislik

Comments

Helping an Employee Who’s Struggling with Postpartum Depression

Going back to work is tough for any new parent, but the transition is especially difficult for those suffering from postpartum depression. (Remember, postpartum depression affects both women and men.) If you manage someone who has recently had a baby, pay close attention to how they’re doing — a parent’s struggle doesn’t always show on the outside. Some people may overcompensate by working too hard, while others may show a loss of enthusiasm. Familiarize yourself with the services your firm offers — which may include groups for working parents, health care coverage for counseling, or post-natal yoga or meditation classes — so that you can help your employee access support. Offer options such as flex time, telecommuting, gradual return, or peer mentoring. In fact, it’s a good idea to offer these things to all team members so that the new parent doesn’t feel singled out. Find ways to make supporting employees and their mental health part of your culture. Adapted from " What Managers...

Stamp your documents with QR Code (Free)

The power of a digital document - on paper. Stamp your documents with a QRdoc code and unlock the power of digital features like getting the latest version of the document. This is a free service offered by QRDoc.io https://qrdoc.io/

If Your Team Is Overwhelmed, What Can They Stop Doing?

Project overload is real. But as a leader, it can be hard to tell whether your team needs more resources or just could be working more efficiently. Start by asking people to identify their key activities and how much time they spend on them in a typical week. Use that data to assess workloads and priorities. Consider which tasks the team could stop doing and which might benefit from having their process rethought. Pay special attention to low-value projects that have to get done but that take up an inordinate amount of time. Are there ways to simplify the workflows to reduce the amount of time your team spends in these areas? And last but not least, look for tasks that simply can be done more quickly. If your team is still struggling after these steps, it might be time to hire more people. Adapted from “What to Do If Your Team Is Too Busy to Take On New Work,” by Dutta Satadip

Keep Write

Search This Blog