This week’s Quick List* is a companion to our Quote of the Week: on Leaders, Losers & Winners
There really is a winner in everyone. Hard to believe sometimes though, isn’t it?
To me, one of leadership’s greatest rewards is drawing the winner out in someone, when she seemed like such a loser that no one, not even Lucy Loser, believed she had it in her.
How to do it?
Here are 10 common tactics…along with commentary about likely results for each.
1. Do nothing …hoping things will change soon.
2. Write her up.
3. Send her for more training.
4. Withhold raises, bonuses, attention, etc.
5. Get her to retire.
6. Fire her.
7. Consider the possibility that there are issues affecting performance. Examples – issues with health, family members, colleagues, finances, boss.
8. Have a curious conversation to find out what could be causing the underperforming behavior. For a stellar example of this, see Loser to Winner Over Lunch.
9. Make your performance expectations very clear. Ask her person what she needs- training, support,counseling – to meet those expectations. Then make a plan of what is needed and by when.
10. Meet with her every week to review progress, provide support and/or re-direction at least until she is back on track. If she doesn’t make progress – then it may be time for her to find a different kind of job.
That’s 10 common tactics.
From my observations:
- #1 is done most often. Leaving a loser alone is one of the worst things that can be done. She will most likely get more lost. Plus it’s terrible for the morale and productivity of the entire organization.
- #2 -6 may be appropriate in some cases but if these things are done without addressing the issues, the only true accomplishment is making the Loser Label official.
- #7-10 take time and energy but in most cases, not nearly as much as is usually spent and lost in #1-6 plus the hiring and training of a replacement who could very well turn into a loser as well.
- #1-6 can be done by anyone. It’s administrative, not leadership behavior.
- #7-10 is the sign of a strong leader at work, one who draws out the best in people, engaging them in their work and the organization’s cause
Your thoughts?
* This weekly feature is for managers who don’t have time or don’t want to make time to read lengthy articles or even short paragraphs. We call it a Quick List. AKA – 10 by 10 on Tuesday. 10 ( ideas or tips or questions or steps or ways to Get 2 Goal or Be a Better Manager, etc) by 10 (AM – EST) on Tuesdays. Click here if you’d like to see all Quick Lists created to date.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 
