Turnaround or Terminate? How to Deal with Problem Employees
Copyright 2005 Anne Alexander
Do you struggle with a "problem" employee? If so, join the
crowd! Many of my coaching clients - businesses owners and
managers - tear their hair out over one or more toxic
employees. In our business environment, we tend to recreate
the dynamics of the family we grew up in, so no wonder
problems develop.
It's amazing how often a business owner or manager will
endure a "problem" employee, unable to help the employee
make positive changes and unable to fire them when
necessary. Tolerating a problem employee is like walking
around with a sliver in your foot - highly irritating, but
you can kind of get used to it. Then, when you finally pull
it out, you can't believe the relief! That relief generally
comes in one of two ways: either you and your employee are
able to make some mutual improvements, or you part ways.
I recommend a two step approach to this issue. First, you
do whatever can be done to turn the situation around. Very
often, you may have made a few half-hearted attempts to
resolve the situation, but feel lost at sea about what else
can be done. You must address the issues directly, calmly
and clearly with the employee. Expectations must be set,
problems and solutions explored. Check in regularly with
the employee to monitor progress.
On a more powerful level, the turnaround can result when
you learn your own and your employee's behavioral style. I
like to use the Platinum Rule assessment, developed by Dr.
Tony Alessandra. It's inexpensive ($30 - $50), easy to
understand and extremely powerful in helping us understand
our own and others' behavior. Your style and this
employee's style probably differ. (For more information on
the Platinum Rule, visit:
http://www.authentic-alternatives.com/platinumrule.htm )
The Golden Rule advises you to treat others as you would
like to be treated. The Platinum Rule advances this to the
next level and suggests that you treat others as you would
like to be treated. Your "problem" employee may be – and
probably is - a different style than you. The Platinum Rule
shows us four core behavioral styles (Relater, Socializer,
Thinker and Director) and gives us many concrete tactics of
how we can flex to meet the other person's style. I have
seen near miracles occur - the proverbial light bulbs go
off - when my clients use this assessment to better
understand themselves and their employees and co-workers.
The second step of the two-step approach: suppose you've
fully implemented the first step (turnaround) and the
situation remains unacceptable. Now it's firing time, and
because I bet you care about other people, you know that
it's one of the most unwanted and difficult tasks an owner
or manager faces. I encourage my clients to remember that a
business or organization cannot afford to carry an
unproductive and toxic employee. An employee person
unwilling or unable to make the necessary improvements must
be sent to find an employment situation that fits them
better. This does not make you an evil or uncompassionate
human being.
So pull out "the sliver" and create a positive, unstoppable
team. The number one key to professional success is the
quality of the people you surround yourself with -
employees, colleagues, spouse, friends. Life speeds by, so
remove the rocks from your river and let it flow forward,
full force. If you can't turn around a problem employee,
you must let them go. You want your business or
organization to flourish, so you will at times find you
have to terminate.
About the Author:
Anne Alexander is a coach who works with business owners,
executives and professionals as their strategic partner to
grow their business or career, improve their effectiveness
and reach their goals. For Anne's free, popular 8 part
e-course "Maximize Your Professional Success," send a blank
email to mailto:maximize@authentic-alternatives.com or
visit
http://www.authentic-alternatives.com
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