Are you uncomfortable with delivering disciplinary action, even involving employees you know deserve it? You're not alone. Disciplinary action is one of the least favored tasks a supervisor must occasionally perform.
Disciplining employees is so dreaded by so many supervisors that many look the other way when trouble develops, perhaps in the hope that the matter will correct itself. But most of the time it doesn't ? it tends to go from bad to worse. Rather than allow that to happen, take positive steps to prevent this potential problem from becoming a real problem.
Consider this simple example. Assume you have an attendance policy that calls for disciplinary action if an employee experiences four unexcused tardiness within a calendar year. A little less than halfway through the year you become aware that a particular employee has already come in late twice without getting your permission. With more than half of the year remaining, you are concerned that she will be in a disciplinary situation before year's end.
Positive action begins with coaching. When the employee hits that second unexcused lateness, take that person aside and follow these five coaching steps.
If employees believe you rarely notice an absence or seem to care little whether they are regularly late, this behavior will continue. But if they know you are aware of their lateness and there are consequences, they'll think twice about casually coming in late.
Conscious awareness of potential problems, plus the willingness to assist employees through coaching, can go a long way toward nipping many disciplinary problems in the bud.
Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
Employees truly deserve paid vacations... Read More
When you are acclaimed for excellence during times of crisis you may not feel so good in a non-crisis environment... Read More
There is a growing movement in the spiritual and holistic fields to bring a more metaphysical and human potential approach to the business community... Read More
Where does the time go? Billable time... Read More
You Can't Do It All - Learning To DelegateThere is not a single management skill more critical to your personal and professional success as an entrepreneur than learning to delegate... Read More
You probably know this already, but there are generally held to be four main personality types, which I call: Extrovert, Amiable, Analytical and Pragmatic ... Read More
Do you remember being told to use the "sandwich" technique when you needed to reprimand someone? Let me give you an example:"Fred, I'm really pleased with how you've been progressing since you joined us and you're doing a great job... Read More