Here's how you can address underperforming team members as a team manager.
As a team manager, addressing underperformance within your team is crucial for maintaining productivity and morale. It begins with identifying the root causes of underperformance, which could range from personal issues to skill gaps. Once you understand why a team member is struggling, you can take tailored actions to help them improve. Remember, it's important to approach the situation with empathy and support, ensuring the team member feels valued and understood. Your goal is to foster an environment where everyone can perform at their best, and sometimes that means providing extra guidance and resources to those who are lagging behind.
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Daniel HartwegFounder and Managing Director of The Mindset Challenger GmbH
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Ayo AnibabaTransformational Business Leader | Business Strategist & Change Management Expert | Driving Growth & Sustainability at…
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Jyotsnaa ShahLeadership Trainer | Facilitator | Coach | Empowering Top Executives | 20+ Years of experience
To address underperformance, start by pinpointing the specific issues at hand. Engage with your team member in a one-on-one conversation to understand their perspective. It's important to listen actively and identify whether the problems are related to workload, personal challenges, or a lack of necessary skills or resources. This step is not about making assumptions but about gathering information to inform your approach in helping the team member improve their performance.
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Daniel Hartweg
Founder and Managing Director of The Mindset Challenger GmbH
Addressing underperforming team members as a team manager requires a thoughtful approach. Begin by establishing a connection built on trust, psychological safety, and empathy. Only then can the employee feel comfortable opening up about their issues. Next, assess whether the employee is applying their passions and talents to their work. If they are, determine if they require additional support to enhance their competencies and provide it accordingly. However, if their passions and talents are not aligned with their current role, collaboratively explore alternative work opportunities that may better suit them.
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Ayo Anibaba
Transformational Business Leader | Business Strategist & Change Management Expert | Driving Growth & Sustainability at Sweet Sensation
Addressing underperforming team members is a challenging yet crucial responsibility for a team manager. The impact on team morale, organizational goals, and overall performance can be significant and so these issues must be tackled. Identifying the cause is important as it will drive how the issue is addressed. It’s important to determine whether the underperformance is due to a skill gap, the need for additional learning time, or a less than ideal work ethic. The root of the issue can be identified through careful observation and/or a thoughtful discussion with the team member.
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Lionel Eigobhor
FMCG & QSR E-commerce Expert |Business Developer |Health & Safety |Logistics
Addressing underperforming team member is a critical but important and crucial step in strengthening the Team. One must understand the background, the persona and how well the member feels and knows their duties. An open minded approach with stepwise tutoring and follow ups plays a good part in improved performance.
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Marcos Alexandre da Silva Tonasse
Educação Corporativa, Desenvolvimento Humano e Carreiras
A ferramenta 1:1 (one-on-one) é um espaço aberto para construir uma relação de confiança entre líder e liderado, alinhas as expectativas e entender quais demandas poderão ser superar a curto, médio e longo prazo. Importante manter uma constância na realização da 1:1, de acordo com cada realidade, podendo ser quinzena ou mensal. Esta reunião não substitui a necessidade de reuniões esporádicas para tratar assuntos mais urgentes ou alinhar as atividades, mas serve para entender questões de motivação, engajamento e expectativas.
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Damilare Abimbola
Growth | Sales | Business Development | Payment | Loans | Banking
Addressing underperforming team members requires empathy, clarity, and a solution-oriented approach. Here are a few step to consider; - Set clear expectations: Ensure each team member understands their role, responsibilities, and performance goals. - Monitor and document performance: Regularly track progress, identifying areas where the team member is struggling. Lastly, Schedule One-on-one, Choose a comfortable, private setting where the team member feels safe to get feedback and discussing their challenges.
After identifying the issues, work with the team member to set clear, achievable goals. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). By setting these goals, you provide a roadmap for improvement and a way to track progress. Ensure that these objectives align with the team's overall targets and the individual's professional growth.
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Milisha V.
The most helpful approach in such situations is to begin with inquiry instead of assigning blame. Acknowledge the challenges and your potential role in them. Gather supporting evidence and promote active listening when it's time to communicate face to face. During the discussions, pinpoint areas of agreement and work together to explore solutions. However, don't end the discussions until a concrete action plan is established with scheduled follow-ups.
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Matthew P. Starr 📖
🔹 Your Narrative Coach 🔹 Everything we do is based on a Narrative. Are you using the right one? | Speaker | Podcaster | Published Author | “People who grow will build companies that grow.”🔹
Let's team up with your colleague to chart out some solid, achievable milestones once the issues are on the table. It's akin to crafting a navigation chart that guides both of you towards improvement and allows you to monitor the journey's progress. These goals should harmonize with the broader ambitions of the team and foster the individual's career development. Essentially, it's about collaborating to carve out the most effective path forward!
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Mian Tayyab Javaid
Manager Administration & IR
After identifying the issues, guide him how to deal with hurdles who reduce the efficiency. Give him SMART goals and an easy approach to data for achieving these goals. These goals should be interlinked with the overall performance of the department. The individual should know the reason for underperforming and the new technique to overcome that reason. After these guidance and roadmaps, he can achieve the set goals within given time.
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Marcos Alexandre da Silva Tonasse
Educação Corporativa, Desenvolvimento Humano e Carreiras
As metas, além de contribuírem para que os resultados sejam atingidos, atuam como uma direção, um norte de para onde queremos ir e o que cada membro precisa fazer para que o resultado seja atingido. Essa clareza trás maior engajamento e possibilita um reconhecimento mais democrático e assertivo com os membros da equipe, dando oportunidades de crescimento para aqueles que mais se destacarem e um auxilio mais próximo para aqueles que estão com dificuldades e desmotivação.
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Karen Dingler
Construye tu Futuro Brillante: Estrategias innovadoras para el agente de seguros moderno
Yo lo que hago en mi empresa Para establecer metas sigo estos paso: 1. Comunicación Abierta Hablar con el empleado sobre sus desafíos y objetivos. 2. Metas SMART Establece metas que sean: - **Específicas** - **Medibles** - **Alcanzables** - **Relevantes** - **Con Plazo definido** 3. Seguimiento Regular Revisa el progreso regularmente y ajusta las metas según sea necesario. 4. Apoyo y Recursos Proporciona el apoyo y los recursos necesarios para alcanzar las metas.
Once goals are set, it's your responsibility to provide the support needed to achieve them. This could involve additional training, mentorship, or adjusting workloads. It's crucial to check in regularly and offer constructive feedback. Remember, support also means recognizing and celebrating progress, which can boost confidence and motivation.
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Folakemi E. Adesina SHRM-SCP
Managerial Psychologist | HRparExcellence|Total Reward Expert |Mental Health Advocate | People and Culture Manager |PI Practitioner|HR Manager
When you've determined your goals, it is up to you to provide the help needed to reach them. Extra training, support from a mentor, or adjusting your workload might really be needed. It is important to keep checking in and offering feedback to help you stay on track. And don't forget, part of support is also celebrating the progress you make. I personally advocate for celebrating wins no matter how little.
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Matthew P. Starr 📖
🔹 Your Narrative Coach 🔹 Everything we do is based on a Narrative. Are you using the right one? | Speaker | Podcaster | Published Author | “People who grow will build companies that grow.”🔹
Imagine you're setting off on a journey together after charting the course with clear goals ahead. Now, think of yourself as the supportive guide, ensuring the traveler (your colleague) has everything they need for the adventure. This might mean packing extra supplies, like training or mentorship, or maybe lightening their load by adjusting their workload. As you trek along, it's important to stop frequently, take in the view, and discuss the path traveled so far. Offer words of encouragement and guidance to navigate any tricky paths. And don't forget to celebrate the milestones you reach together! Cheering on their progress not only uplifts their spirits but also fuels their motivation to continue the journey.
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Marcos Alexandre da Silva Tonasse
Educação Corporativa, Desenvolvimento Humano e Carreiras
O líder precisa estar próximo de seus liderados na busca pelo atingimento das metas e oferecer o suporte necessário para que os resultados apareçam. É importante ter um canal direto com os liderados e abertura para uma escuta ativa e corrigir a rota quando necessário, pois os cenários se alteram com alta velocidade, neste mundo BANI.
Encouraging continuous professional development is key for long-term improvement. Offer opportunities for skill enhancement through workshops, courses, or cross-training with colleagues. Promote a growth mindset within your team by highlighting that skills can be developed with effort and persistence. This approach helps underperforming team members see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
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Jyotsnaa Shah
Leadership Trainer | Facilitator | Coach | Empowering Top Executives | 20+ Years of experience
Focusing on your under performers can be the way to enhance team productivity. Diagnose what your people need using skill and will as a criteria for poor performance. Assist them with training for skill development and motivate them through the resistance factor for a task, if any. Explain to them why the right mindset will help them shine through. Have a mentor approach as you navigate them through this phase
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Matthew P. Starr 📖
🔹 Your Narrative Coach 🔹 Everything we do is based on a Narrative. Are you using the right one? | Speaker | Podcaster | Published Author | “People who grow will build companies that grow.”🔹
Imagine each team member as a unique type of flora within a diverse ecosystem. As various species thrive under careful cultivation, your team members similarly flourish when their growth is intentionally fostered. Envision offering them a plethora of developmental opportunities such as specialized training sessions, comprehensive learning modules, or the option to engage in cross-functional projects. Encourage your team to see themselves as gardeners of their personal and professional growth, understanding that grit and persistence serve as essential instruments for cultivating their talents. This approach transforms their perception of obstacles—not as impediments to avoid, but as necessary nourishment that prompts their growth.
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Dr Hemalatha Raju
Writer, HR Strategist, L & D Expert, Researcher, Academician, DPR Specialist
Offering opportunities for skill enhancement is crucial for addressing underperforming team members as a team manager. Providing access to workshops, courses, or cross-training with colleagues equips team members with the necessary tools and knowledge to improve their performance. This investment in their development shows that you value their growth and are committed to their success, which can boost their motivation and engagement. Skill enhancement opportunities also enable team members to broaden their expertise, making them more versatile and valuable to the team. Add on is, this approach fosters a 'culture of continuous learning and improvement', benefiting both the individual and the organization.
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Dipankar Roy
Ex-Wipro & C.K. Birla Group L&D Leader | Startup Exp. | Applying Latest Tech & Data Science for Frugal, Agile & Sustainable Solutions | Trusted Partner (L&D & Holistic) | Healthcare, ITES, Education, Hospitality with ROI
As a team manager, fostering growth among underperforming team members is crucial. Offer skill enhancement opportunities through workshops, courses, or cross-training. Promote a growth mindset, emphasizing that skills can be developed with effort. Encourage seeing challenges as learning opportunities. Provide regular constructive feedback tailored to individual needs, guiding them towards improvement. Facilitate mentorship or coaching relationships to provide personalized support and guidance. Additionally, create a culture of accountability where team members take ownership of their development goals and progress, fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment to growth.
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Karen Dingler
Construye tu Futuro Brillante: Estrategias innovadoras para el agente de seguros moderno
H Para fomentar el crecimiento en empleados de bajo rendimiento, primero identifico sus fortalezas y áreas de mejora. Proporciono capacitación y recursos específicos para desarrollar habilidades. Establezco metas SMART (específicas, medibles, alcanzables, relevantes y con plazo definido) y hago seguimiento regular del progreso. Ofrezco mentoría y apoyo continuo, además de reconocer y celebrar sus logros para mantener la motivación y construir confianza.
Monitoring progress is essential to ensure that the team member is on track with their improvement plan. Schedule regular follow-ups to discuss achievements and areas that need more attention. Use these sessions to adjust goals as needed and to reaffirm your commitment to the team member's development. Consistent monitoring also demonstrates that you take their performance seriously.
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Mike Boswell
A quote comes to mind; "You can expect what you inspect". No one wants to be micro-managed, and hopefully you don't want to be that type of leader. Yet, it must be done at times. Communicating to staff often fails when it is only spoken. Two things a leader can do to ensure communication is clear: First, written follow up. I find it effective to have the employee provide a short recap of a 1:1 meeting. It shows you whether your communication was effective. Any missed details can be in your reply if needed. Second, your frequency of messaging proves whether a topic is important. We can say "This is critical". If the topic is only mentioned once, however, it will not be believed to be important because you've not shown that it is.
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Matthew P. Starr 📖
🔹 Your Narrative Coach 🔹 Everything we do is based on a Narrative. Are you using the right one? | Speaker | Podcaster | Published Author | “People who grow will build companies that grow.”🔹
Picture this: You and your team member are on a journey together, navigating the path of professional growth. Think of yourselves as adventurers, mapping out the terrain of improvement and discovery. To make sure you're both heading in the right direction, setting up regular checkpoints is key. These are cozy, coffee-chat moments where you celebrate the milestones reached and ponder over the twists and turns that need a bit more navigation. During these catch-ups, it’s like tweaking your compass—adjusting goals here and there to ensure you’re both still excited about the expedition ahead. It’s also your chance to show how much you value this journey with your team member, reinforcing that you’re in this together.
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Levina Marpaung
Corporate Planning-HR Strategic l Ex. RS UKRIDA
Monitoring is an aspect that often forgotten, but it's essential. Monitoring is powerful, it can make everything goes according to the plan and also by monitoring it, supervisor can know the flaws of the plan (because he/she involved in it).
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Dr Hemalatha Raju
Writer, HR Strategist, L & D Expert, Researcher, Academician, DPR Specialist
Monitoring progress is essential for addressing underperforming team members and ensuring they are on track with their improvement plan. Regular check-ins and assessments provide: - Clarity on the individual's development, allowing for 'timely adjustments' and 'support'. - This continuous oversight helps identify any 'persistent obstacle's or 'additional training needs', facilitating more effective problem-solving. - By tracking progress, managers can offer 'constructive feedback' and 'positive reinforcement', which boosts morale and encourages sustained effort. - Consistent monitoring demonstrates commitment to the 'team member's growth', fostering a 'culture of accountability' and continuous 'improvement'.
If progress is not as expected, be prepared to adjust your strategy. This might mean revisiting the goals set or the support provided. It's important to remain flexible and open to trying new approaches if the initial plan isn't working. Remember that improvement is a process, and sometimes it requires several iterations to find the right solution.
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Allison A Johnson 🇯🇲
💡DEIB -Certified Inclusive Branding Strategist| 🎯Content Marketing GENIUS 🏆| Biz Teacher I integrate a three-step DEI-INCLUSIVE BRANDING process to help struggling BIz Owners with FINANCIAL progress &SOCIAL IMPACT
Its important to be flexible enough to adjust strategy ..this calls for awareness..close monitoring and support of the implemented plan
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Ayo Anibaba
Transformational Business Leader | Business Strategist & Change Management Expert | Driving Growth & Sustainability at Sweet Sensation
Adjusting strategy is critical when progress is not as expected. For example, this may mean - Providing additional or different types of support to the team member. - Redeploying the team member to a role that better aligns with their skill set. - Reassessing the terms of engagement, particularly if support has been provided without improvement or if the team member hasn't taken ownership of their performance. Flexibility and openness to various options are crucial, as the growth of the team member and the achievement of organizational goals are at stake.
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Karen Dingler
Construye tu Futuro Brillante: Estrategias innovadoras para el agente de seguros moderno
Quiero compartir cómo abordo el bajo rendimiento de los empleados y los ayudo a mejorar. 1. Comunicación Abierta Inicio una conversación honesta, expresando mis observaciones y escuchando al empleado para entender sus dificultades. 2. Plan de Acción Creamos juntos un plan que incluye: - **Capacitación** - **Revisión de Procesos** - **Asignación de Tareas** - **Mentoría** - **Metas SMART** 3. Seguimiento Hago un seguimiento regular para ajustar la estrategia según sea necesario. 4. Refuerzo Positivo Reconozco y celebro sus logros para mantener la motivación.
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Karen Dingler
Construye tu Futuro Brillante: Estrategias innovadoras para el agente de seguros moderno
Quiero compartir cómo abordo el bajo rendimiento de los empleados y los ayudo a mejorar. 1. Comunicación Abierta Inicio una conversación honesta, expresando mis observaciones y escuchando al empleado para entender sus dificultades. 2. Plan de Acción Creamos juntos un plan que incluye: - **Capacitación** - **Revisión de Procesos** - **Asignación de Tareas** - **Mentoría** - **Metas SMART** 3. Seguimiento Hago un seguimiento regular para ajustar la estrategia según sea necesario. 4. Refuerzo Positivo Reconozco y celebro sus logros para mantener la motivación.
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Josh Gottesman, MBA, SHRM-SCP
Don’t just dream big, DO BIG! | CHRO | SHRM Speaker | Talent Architect: Building skills that last
Provide concrete facts and examples of where the performance is poor. It doesn’t help saying “we aren’t happy with your poor performance.” It does help saying “We set a deadline and you didn’t hit it. Due to that missed deadline we weren’t able to love the project forward etc” People want to hear exactly why you think the performance is poor not general ideas.
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Sheebha Alex
Talent Acquisition Executive | IT Recruitment | RPO | Client Management | Team Handling
Have a private conversation to understand any underlying issues and offer support. Provide specific examples of where improvement is needed and set clear expectations for improvement. Offer resources or training if necessary, and follow up regularly to monitor progress.
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𝑫𝒓. 𝑫𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝑲 𝑺𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒌𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒓
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 | 17𝐊 + 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 | 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 | 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 | 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 | 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 | 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 & 𝐇𝐑 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 |
As a team manager, an approach to address underperforming team members involves organizing a "Skills Exchange Day." Instead of focusing solely on shortcomings, leverage the diverse talents within your team to inspire improvement. On this day, encourage team members to swap roles temporarily based on their strengths and interests. This not only provides a fresh perspective but also fosters empathy and understanding among team members. By experiencing different roles firsthand, underperforming members gain insight into their colleagues' challenges and successes, fostering a collaborative environment where they can learn, grow, and contribute more effectively.
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Ayo Anibaba
Transformational Business Leader | Business Strategist & Change Management Expert | Driving Growth & Sustainability at Sweet Sensation
In my experience, clear upfront expectations are fundamental to first identifying and subsequently addressing underperformance. From the outset, team members should have a comprehensive understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This clarity facilitates the early identification of any deviations from expected performance standards. The performance evaluation and appraisal process, led by HR, must be thorough, well-executed, and meticulously tracked. A robust appraisal system ensures that performance issues are identified promptly and addressed before they escalate. Regular check-ins and performance reviews provide an opportunity to give constructive feedback and set actionable goals for improvement.
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Tereza Ferreira
Gerente Comercial Regional
Além de todos os pontos mencionados, precisamos lembrar nossos liderados, sobre suas motivações e sonhos, os seus motivos para agir e virar o jogo, reverter o cenário, independente do problema, e o liderado ter certeza de que o motivo da nossa preocupação é o sucesso e crescimento dele, a meta e o resultado serão consequência dessa decisão de "tirar o carro do atoleiro" e voltar a produzir.
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