22 Aug 2019

Tolerating Problem Employees

Tolerating problem employees is a common trap I see business owners fall into. The issue can be an approach of “let’s ignore it and hope it goes away” or simply not knowing what to do. Allowing problem employees to continue the negative status quo has an adverse effect on your customers and can be destructive to team morale, staff retention, and productivity. It creates a host of headaches for the boss as well!

Two options to consider:

  1. Invest in your team with training and coaching – A skilled coach knows how to get to the root of the matter to uncover the actual issue. Whether it’s skillset, mindset, or a combination that needs work, it’s imperative to put together a thorough plan to get from point A to point B. An accountability program to stay on track is the other must-have to make a difference with each employee and to sustain long-lasting change within the company.
  2. Let them go QUICKLY – The old adage, “Fire quickly, hire slowly” certainly is sage advice. Sometimes a bad fit is just a bad fit. In that case, the sooner the problem staffer is dismissed, the better. This frees up the space for the right person to breathe a breath of fresh air and productivity into the position. This decisive action also shows the remaining team that you value employees who contribute to the company mission and you respect the efforts of those who care about the work they do.

I would love to hear which options you have used successfully in your business (or suggest another one). Please reach out to me at KEllet@TheGrowthCoach.com.

by Kim Ellet, CPC, The Growth Coach of Metro Atlanta

Kim Ellet is a certified professional coach and owner of The Growth Coach of Metro Atlanta. She finds joy in helping successful leaders committed to continuous improvement, be more of who they are, dream bigger dreams, and accomplish more than they realized was possible. www.TheGrowthCoach/Atlanta.com

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