For your team to be a success, every employee must pull their weight. If a few staffers are holding everyone else back, you need to nip their bad behavior in the bud.
It’s not fair to the rest of your hard working team to have their efforts quelled by a few underperformers. Things won’t change without your attention, so deal with the issue promptly to make a change for the better.
4 Ways to Motivate Underperformers on Your Team
Address the Situation
Some people don’t work hard if they think the boss isn’t looking. Take the person aside and make it clear you’re aware their performance isn’t up to par. This alone might be enough to kick their work ethic into high gear.
Find the Underlying Cause
Laziness isn’t the only reason for underperformance. It’s possible the person has a very good explanation for their sub par work — i.e., lack of skills or resources — so find out what’s really going on. Doing a little digging is necessary because some people won’t speak up on their own.
Set Clear Expectations
After the problem has been addressed, define your expectations so the employee knows exactly what you want from them. Set specific goals for them to achieve and explain what will happen if they fall short. Getting on the same page with the person should motivate them to step their performance up.
Recognize Little Successes
Encourage growth in your underperformers by celebrating even their smallest wins. This boosts their confidence and lets them know you’re keeping close tabs on their work. Little things like meeting a deadline or doing a task right the first time might not seem like a huge accomplishment to you, but positive reinforcement will encourage them to keep up the good work.
Certain employees just need an extra push, but some people can’t be changed. If your efforts to motivate an underperformer fail, cut your losses and let the person go. There’s plenty of talented, motivated professionals who would be excited to take their place.
When you have too much on your plate, there’s no time to motivate underperformers. ECS provides back-office, funding and employer of record service to recruiters, and professional payrolling and independent contractor management services to companies, so you can focus more energy on your team. Let’s get started today!