Addressing performance issues can be one of the most challenging parts of management. But, it doesn’t have to be a negative experience for managers or staff. We find many performance problems can be resolved.
Through TMC’s conspire-and-align approach, we support managers as they partner with staff to address problems together. For managers, this means balancing two responsibilities: 1) staying accountable to results, and 2) upholding each person’s inherent value, dignity, and potential.
Browse templates and best practices for managing employee performance problems. You’ll find a performance improvement plan toolkit, conversation scripts, and a step-by-step guide managers can use when someone is underperforming. Learn to coach staff, give feedback on staff performance, and prepare for informal and formal performance warnings.
What do you do when someone isn’t performing well—not meeting expectations, hitting goals, or demonstrating core competencies? Use this four-step guide to address performance issues with empathy, consistency, and equity at the center.
Here’s an example of what an initial, informal warning conversation might sound like with an employee who’s struggling.
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a written plan with clear steps to help your staff member get to the expected level of performance for their role. This toolkit includes two resources: 1) a preparation worksheet for managers, which can be helpful whether or not you’re ready for a formal PIP; and 2) a template for a written Performance Improvement Plan you can fill in and share with your staff member.
Check out this case study that illustrates the four steps outlined in our article on addressing performance problems: reflect, check in, assess, consider and decide.
What do you do when someone isn’t performing well—not meeting expectations, hitting goals, or demonstrating core competencies? Use this four-step guide to address performance issues with empathy, consistency, and equity at the center.
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a written plan with clear steps to help your staff member get to the expected level of performance for their role. This toolkit includes two resources: 1) a preparation worksheet for managers, which can be helpful whether or not you’re ready for a formal PIP; and 2) a template for a written Performance Improvement Plan you can fill in and share with your staff member.
Here are some tricky performance scenarios our clients have encountered, and suggestions for designing a responsive performance improvement plan.
How long should you give someone to improve after warning them? What should I do when someone isn’t meeting expectations, but I can’t pinpoint concrete things they messed up either? Here are some questions that we often hear regarding performance problems.
Read this article for advice on what to do when a staff member responds to feedback with defensiveness.
Giving effective feedback requires practice. This small group activity can help managers practice different types of feedback in preparation for performance evaluations.
Here’s our advice about coaching a disorganized staff member. (Note: you can apply these tips to coaching about other issues too!)
Hesitant about giving feedback to staff or coworkers? We address common misconceptions so you can build a feedback culture and strengthen relationships in the process.
Here’s an example of what an initial, informal warning conversation might sound like with an employee who’s struggling.
When corrective feedback and support hasn’t led to improved employee performance, a more formal warning that clearly informs the employee that their job is in jeopardy is usually the next step. Here is an example of a formal performance warning in writing.
We know it can help to see samples of this sort of thing, so here’s a sample evaluation of a struggling employee.
Sometimes coaching someone out of a job is the right path when the role is no longer a good fit. Use this sample script to prep your conversation.
Managers often struggle to find the right words to use when letting an employee go, so here’s a sample script.
Progressive discipline consists of a brief series of increasingly serious warnings, culminating in dismissal if an employee fails to improve sufficiently – and lets your staff know that they won’t be fired without first knowing about your concerns.
Un plan de mejora del rendimiento (PIP) es un plan escrito con pasos claros para ayudar a su personal a alcanzar el nivel de rendimiento esperado para su función. Este kit de herramientas incluye dos recursos: 1) una hoja de trabajo de preparación para gerentes, que puede ser útil tanto si se está preparado para un PIP formal y 2) una plantilla para un Plan de Mejora del Rendimiento por escrito que puede rellenar y compartir con su miembro del personal.
Make staff development and retention central to your work. Learn to cultivate staff strengths, inspire accountability, and address performance problems.
Learn how to give quality feedback that strengthens relationships and leads to better results. We give you tools and time to practice.