1. Document all problem performance behaviors. Make note of specific job behaviors such as absenteeism, lateness, and poor quality in terms of dates, times, and what happened. This provides you with objective data.
2. Deal with the employee objectively, fairly, and equitably. Treat each employee similarly. Issues discussed should focus on performance behaviors.
3. Confront job performance issues only. Your main focus is on what affects performance. Even though it may be a personal problem, you should not try to psychoanalyze the individual. Leave that to the trained specialists! You can, however, address how these behaviors are affecting the employee’s job performance.
4. Offer assistance to help the employee. Just pointing the finger at an employee serves little useful purpose. If the employee could “fix” the problem alone, he or she probably would have, Help might be needed-from both you and the organization. Offer this assistance where possible.
5. Expect the employee to resist the feedback and become defensive. It is human nature to dislike constructive or negative feedback. Expect that the individual will be uncomfortable with the discussion. Make every effort, however, to keep the meeting calm so that the message can get across. Documentation, fairness, focusing on job behaviors, and offering assistance help reduce this defensiveness.
6. Make sure the employee owns up to the problem. All things considered, the problem is not yours: it’s the employee’s . The employee needs to take responsibility for his or her behavior and begin to look for ways to correct the problem.
7. Develop an action plan to correct performance. Once the employee has taken responsibility for the problem, develop a plan of action designed to correct the problem. Be specific as to what the employee must do (for example, what is expected and when it is expected), and what resources you are willing to commit to assist.
8. Identify outcomes for failing to correct problems. You’re there to help, not to carry a poor performer forever. Inform the employee of what the consequences will be if he or she does not follow the action plan.
9. Monitor and control progress. Evaluate the employee’s progress. Provide frequent feedback on what you’re observing. Reinforce good efforts.