That bright young go-getter you hired five years ago is fizzling out. Lackluster performance and excessive absences have led to plummeting reviews, and rumor has it, he’s skulking around the office spreading poison. Was this shining star a well-disguised dud all along?

Unless your employee has a history of crashing and burning, something else is amiss. The first place to explore is the employee’s management team. Did leadership recently change or has it stayed the same? Poor management skills, whether they cause a slow build or a sudden burst of negativity, can morph an eager new hire into a checked-out complainer.

Steer clear of these four ways to turn good employees bad:

1. Setting low (or no) performance standards. Performance standards guide desired work results. How else can employees know what they’re doing well and what they could improve? Like a child with no rules, lack of performance standards creates an “anything goes” attitude. After all, with no written standard, who are you to argue that they’re doing a bad job? Setting appropriate performance standards (and regularly reviewing them) will keep employees focused and pushing toward a goal.
2. Micromanaging. Nobody likes a helicopter manager, whether it’s the one who asks ten times a day if that project is done yet; the one who demands to see every envelope to make sure it’s properly addressed; or the one who takes over a capable subordinate’s job duties, either directly or by dictating what, when, and how to do the job. You hired this employee for a reason, so have a little faith in their abilities.
3. Imposing the status quo. Employees feel more productive and valued when their ideas are heard. And it’s a win-win, because employee ideas, especially when they come from a new employee’s perspective, can help a business grow and change. Ignoring these ideas stifles employee individuality and creativity, and will soon have your team working like mindless machines.
4. Pointing fingers instead of pursuing solutions. Mistakes happen, especially when an employee is learning the job and the company. What’s critical is how management handles these mistakes. A poor manager will counter a mistake with blame, ridicule, or discipline. This response humiliates the employee, creates fear of admitting future mistakes, and does nothing to educate the employee or to work toward a solution. Every mistake can be an educational opportunity with the hope of doing better next time.

If poor management skills are causing employee negativity and turnover, YES! Your Human Resources Solution team can help. Our experienced HR consultants will educate management through in-person and web-based training programs, including team-building, active listening, and HR for supervisors. We will also work with staff to implement effective and interactive performance management systems. As Orange County’s premier HR consulting firm, YES! is the only solution you need to build knowledgeable managers and satisfied employees. Contact us for a free consultation!