Five Reasons Employees Do Not Perform Well on Their Job

In my business leadership workshops I discuss the five reasons why employees don’t perform well. They are:

1. Personal problems or illness
2. Don’t know how to do it and need training
3. Do not understand the rules or processes
4. They are incapable of doing it and will never be able to
5. They are in a rut and don't really care to do any more than necessary

Let me run through each. Number one is obvious, if someone is going through divorce or other personal trauma, it will cause a problem in every aspect of their life, including their job. If someone is sick, dealing with chronic medical issues, of course it will cause them to perform at a lower level. Be considerate and caring. Ask questions, maybe they need to just vent. Don't try to be a therapist, unless of course you are a professional in that field.

Number two, don’t know how to do something and need training, that is where a training program actually works. Keep in mind, the training program objectives must meet the needs of what this person has to know in order to perform their job properly.

Number three usually occurs either with a new employee who does not understand the methods and routines in your business or there has been a recent change in software or systems that confuses people. Communication is key here. Employee handbooks and written methods and processes are very important here.

Number four is unique, and really may not have a solution. Being incapable of doing something could be explained with this example. Let’s say you have someone who was hired with the understanding that they will not have to interact with others. Basically working in a warehouse environment simply performing repetitive tasks that require no interaction with others. One day you decide to put this person on the front lines, meeting and greeting customers. This would definitely create a problem with the customers and especially the employee and you may not be able to resolve it. It would be like forcing someone to climb ladders who is terribly afraid of heights. If no other option is available, then they can no longer be employed there.

Number five is self-explanatory. To this person, they have a job, do the minimum required, payday is Friday and they are only here to get a pay check. They display minimum effort and see no reason to do anything more. I have a step by step system that will take care of this situation if the steps are followed correctly.

Great leadership is learned through experience, listening to people who have done it well and be open to new ideas from your team and from others. Most important of all is communication, asking the right questions, involving your team and having a major focus on everyone winning. Not everyone can be a great coach or leader and not everyone is able to adapt to every work environment. We are all different, and that's okay.

 My dad always taught me. If you are going to do something, do it right, or find someone who knows what they are doing to do it for you.

Questions? Think I can help, or want to meet? Email me at [email protected]