In this “Wise Words” video, Chris Stevenson from The Empower Group addresses the challenges leaders face in getting their employees to perform at high levels. He identifies three primary reasons why employees may not be meeting expectations and offers solutions for each.
- They don’t care: This is often a result of a bad hire or an employee becoming disengaged over time. If someone on your team doesn’t care about their work, they will likely never perform well and may negatively impact others. The solution here is straightforward: if there’s no specific incident causing the disengagement that can be addressed, the employee should be let go to preserve team morale and productivity.
- They don’t know how: Sometimes, employees fail to perform simply because they lack the necessary knowledge or skills. This could be due to inadequate onboarding or training. The solution is to provide additional training and resources. These employees are typically motivated and engaged, but they need more support to perform their tasks effectively.
- They disagree: Occasionally, employees may disagree with the way something is being done. Stevenson views this as an opportunity rather than a problem. When disagreements arise, leaders should engage in discussions with their employees. This can lead to three outcomes: reinforcing the leader’s way after understanding both perspectives, compromising by making some adjustments, or completely changing the approach if the employee’s perspective is valid.
Stevenson concludes by emphasizing that understanding these three reasons and addressing them appropriately can enhance a leader’s ability to manage their team effectively. These insights should be added to every leader’s toolbox to ensure a high-performing team.
