Addressing poor performance is a common challenge faced by all leaders, often stemming from discomfort with delivering negative feedback. Many leaders opt to avoid these conversations altogether, hoping issues will resolve themselves.
However, neglecting poor performance is not a viable solution. According to a Harvard Business Review article, 69% of leaders feel uncomfortable communicating with employees, especially when delivering direct feedback that might elicit a negative response. This discomfort is not unique to Australia but is a global phenomenon.
At The Retail Solution, we specialise in helping clients improve performance while fostering an enjoyable work environment for both leaders and their teams. Here are key reasons why addressing poor performance is essential:
1. Clarity: Providing feedback informs employees whether they are meeting expectations or falling short.
2. Standards: Clear feedback helps employees understand what constitutes good performance.
3. Motivation: Recognising and rewarding good performance boosts morale and encourages continued excellence.
4. Support: Addressing poor performance offers struggling employees the opportunity to improve and excel.
Despite these benefits, concerns about potential negative reactions from employees often deter leaders from addressing performance issues. To overcome these concerns, follow these steps:
1. Evaluate: Assess performance to pinpoint areas needing improvement.
2. Specificity: Provide clear, specific feedback about identified areas for improvement.
3. Engagement: Instead of focusing on “why not,” discuss the importance of improvement by asking ‘why is it important”.
4. Encouragement: Acknowledge and praise improvements promptly to reinforce positive behaviour.
These steps can be accomplished swiftly, dispelling the notion that time is a barrier to providing feedback. Over the past 20+ years. We have successfully implemented this approach with thousands of leaders and franchisees, yielding remarkable results
Roger Simpson – CEO, The Retail Solution and Author of “The Ultimate Retail Sales Experience” With over 35 years’ industry experience, Roger Simpson is recognized as Australia’s #1 Authority on customer ROI in the retail industry and as a global expert on staff coaching, customer service, and selling skills.
