Business people have experienced employees who are perceived to be problems and a detriment to the company. The first impulse is to terminate that employee and rid the organization of a pariah. While firing may be necessary in some cases, letting an employee go is not required in every case. Every personnel situation is different, and should be treated on an individual basis.
I am not recommending keeping an employee on the payroll who is untrustworthy, destructive to the company, or who is incompetent and has no desire to learn or improve. Those people would be better served by being elsewhere, as a different environment might be better suited to their skill set. In this case, we are considering employees who are not performing to their full potential; or indeed, to any semblence of their natural abilities. Instead of having a quick firing trigger finger, some other mutually beneficial options are available to the employer.
The first step is to talk to the employee and find out if there are any personal issues that may be the cause of the underperformance. All too often, difficulties at home, health concerns, or personal demons are the core problem. As a responsible employer, who cares about the people in your company, you may be able to address these issues successfully. An employee who feels supported on the job front is much more likely to improve matters in their personal life as well. Every organization should have some sort of personal assistance and employee counselling available on a contract basis.
If the concerns are performance based, then another approach to a solution is required to improve the problem. Often, a frustrated employer will simply announce the firing and that is the end of the story. Before terminating an individual's position, it is a worthwhile exercise to reconsider why you hired the person in the first place. There must have been some skills and talent that caught your eye, and a sense that this person was right for the job. Many times, the problem is not the employee, but one created by the employer instead.
If the employee was hired for a complex, and difficult task, be sure to examine the level of training provided to do the job. Many times, the employee was shown the job site or office and left to sink or swim with little or not guidance. More often than not, a life preserver is not available for the drowning staffer either. If the person doesn't understand their job, the tragic result is usually failure. The inability to complete the job duties are not a result of incompetence, laziness, or a lack of intelligence. The person simply was provided with no direction to follow.
Be certain that all new and existing employees know their job requirements and have a written job description. Be sure to provide adequate training and observation to ensure the assignments are performed correctly. Employees shouldn't have to be mind readers. The individual obviously impressed you with their talent and credentials. Be sure your company lives up to its responsibility to its staff as well. Keep in mind that employees treat customers and clients in a similar manner to how they are treated themselves. That realization can be a very sobering thought indeed.
While some employers will be justifiably concerned with out of pocket expenses for training and for personal counselling, it's crucial to understand lost opportunity costs. An employee who is not performing well or who is dissatisfied with the employment situation will not be a productive worker. Sales will be lost, deadlines will not be met, and current and prospective customers may disappear to your competitors.
All of these scenarios and more are financial drains that do not appear in black and white on your account ledgers. They represent money thrown away as surely as if you threw the money into the trash can. Thorough personnel training and employee support are investments that pay real cash dividends. Employer investments in personnel training and further education are not losses, but builders of revenue. Happy, well trained employees can do their jobs better, and build more sales for your company.
Instead of firing that person, build a fire inside them, and help them blaze a path of glory for your business. You may also have the pleasure of saving someone's personal well being. That feeling can be more precious than gold.
