Konosuke Matsushita – a Japanese entrepreneur considered the father of the Japanese business model, once said, “The most valuable asset of any company is its people.” Human resources are the primary factor in a company’s success. However, underperforming employees are also the main reason for a company’s decline.

Managers should recognize the warning signs of underperforming employees early

In any company, there will be some employees with lower capabilities than others. They may be weak in knowledge, skills, or even attitude. However, many of these employees dislike criticism and do not acknowledge their own shortcomings to improve. On the other hand, they have a habit of finding excuses for their deficiencies.

Reasons Why Managers Have a “Headache” When Dealing with Underperforming Employees

In reality, there are many reasons why employees perform poorly, such as: limited abilities, lack of work experience, unclear job objectives… As a manager, you must find ways to address your employees’ poor performance, but many find it frustrating because they are unable to handle these employees.

See more: Underperforming Employees: What Can Managers Do to Improve the Situation?

Difficulty in Handling Underperforming Employees Due to Lack of Evidence – A Tough Conversation

Lack of evidence is the first concern for any manager because you have no proof that the employee is not performing well. Underperforming employees dislike criticism, so without clear evidence, they will not be convinced and may develop negative thoughts, viewing the manager as a dictator who only likes to nitpick.

Pointing out their mistakes is the fastest way to help underperforming employees correct their shortcomings

When an employee is not performing well, avoid using general criticisms; they won’t understand their mistakes in order to change. Instead, point out the specific shortcomings they are facing. This will prompt the employee to quickly address their deficiencies. On the other hand, it also makes them feel that the manager is generous and doesn’t dwell on past issues.

Reference: The Art of Delegating Tasks for the 4.0 CEO

Managers Find It Hard to Handle Underperforming Employees Because of “3 Fears”

For many managers, they always face a dilemma when dealing with underperforming employees due to 3 fears: fear of causing offense, fear of them leaving, and fear of affecting relationships. Specifically:

Fear of Causing Offense

When pointing out an employee’s weaknesses, a manager can easily make them ‘dislike’ them. If the manager is not the type to ‘choose their words carefully to please others,’ it will further strain the employee-manager relationship.

Fear of Employees Leaving the Company

Quite a few employees leave a company because of their manager, and these are often the underperforming ones. They are ‘sensitive’ to their manager, the work, and the work environment itself, which is why they will quickly leave the company. Not only that, but they might also cause other employees to leave the company as well.

Fear of Affecting Other Relationships

The relationship between an employee and their manager is a crucial factor that regulates all activities within the company. The employee-manager relationship cannot always be tense, as it only causes harm and brings no benefits. And it doesn’t just stop at the relationship within the company; it can also negatively affect the personal friendships of both parties. If these ‘fears’ can be resolved, managers will find it easier to handle underperforming employees.

1Office is an effective total enterprise management solution for managers

1Office – The Solution to Managers’ Worries in Human Resource Management

To solve the problem of handling underperforming employees, 1Office is the leading total enterprise management solution chosen by many managers. Through the Workplace toolset, managers can easily manage personnel, customers, tasks, and internal communications based on scientific thinking methods and a unified, modern technology platform. This ensures that the business can easily manage its personnel, especially underperforming employees, in the most optimal way.

Related articles:

Apply Management Knowledge in Practice
with 1Office's Comprehensive Business Management Suite!
Register Now icon
Zalo Hotline