Dealing with the slightly below-average employee
Featured in the Managing the Poor Performer training manual
By
Category: Performance Management
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Too often the performance of the ‘slightly below-average’ employee is ignored. After all, they do some work, even if other people do make up for them, for a time. And that is the problem. The manager takes no action; things drift along until one day some team member throws a tantrum at ‘always being put upon by so and so’ and the manager over-reacts, making the situation worse. However, the slightly below-average employees make up nearly half the working population and, in turning them round – not into ‘stars’, but into slightly above average – the manager is releasing a fund of ability hitherto undreamed of, and thus adding to the organisation’s improved performance. Furthermore, in doing so, the manager is greatly enhancing the satisfaction the employee derives from work, and from life in general. The techniques for doing this are so simple.
The training activity begins with a short discussion about individuals the participants know of who are very slightly under-performing and what actions are being taken to improve matters. This is followed by a group exercise in which the benefits of tackling the issue are identified. The participants then focus on the relationship between self-esteem and performance by looking at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and this leads to a consideration of ways of raising an individual’s self-esteem. A final exercise asks the participants to consider the importance of slightly challenging targets in raising both self-esteem and performance. To close, the participants summarise the three or four main points of the training activity.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to help participants examine the reasons for the neglect of poor performers and to provide effective behaviours for managers to use for improvement.
- Themes:
- Basic management,
- Managing poor performance,
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:30:00 |
| No of Pages: | 16 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers with participants on managing the poor performer programmes, and employee development courses. Introducing the concepts of this training activity frequently into courses and meetings can have a beneficial effect on the whole organisation. Because so many people can be regarded as poor performers, it is a good idea to use this training activity on any management course.
Download the training activity, Dealing with the slightly below-average employee as featured in the Fenman training manual; Managing the Poor Performer