Substandard performance rarely happens by accident. Employees usually decide when and how to slack off or withhold their best efforts.
In some cases, workers underperform for not-so-obvious reasons, such as lacking technical skills or health ailments. Whatever the causes, what's most important is how the manager responds.
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1: The Apathetic Worker
Employees who lack a connection to their work leave clues. The attentive manager quickly notices these clues and takes action to re-engage the worker.
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2: The Employee Who Lacks Core Skills
When filling a job opening, a manager may overlook the importance of a newcomer's actual skill level, in an effort to quickly fill the position.
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3: The Disconnected Worker
Employees are more likely to reach their potential when they know that they make a difference. However, when they feel isolated or conclude their efforts are just "busy work," they'll give themselves permission to slack off.
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4: The Employee With No Accountability
It can happen in an instant. Employees who perform adequately and work hard to meet standards suddenly realize no one is minding the store. Whether or not they deliver a solid performance, no one will notice.
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5: The Worker Distracted by Personal Problems
Employees who are preoccupied with problems in their personal lives may lose focus and concentration. As a manager, one cannot diagnose psychological issues that may afflict their workers.
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This slideshow summarizes content from Kiplinger's Why Employees Perform Poorly and What You Can Do About It, written by management expert Morey Stettner.
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