How to Hold a Meeting With an Employee to Improve His or Her Job Performance

An employee's poor job performance can be improved with a simple meeting - if it is done with professionalism and sensitivity.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Human Resource Managers
• Personal Organizers
• Spiral Notebooks
• Writing Pens

Preparing for the Conversation

1. Write down specific concerns about the employee's performance. Include time, date, and what was done or not done to your satisfaction.

2. Review this employee's performance relative to his job description. Check that your assessment is fair and accurate.

3. Make sure that the employee has been adequately trained and that he understands his job description.

4. Be honest with yourself - have you contributed in any way to this employee's difficulties? If so, what can you do differently to improve the situation?

5. Determine whether this has been a problem employee from the beginning, or if this is a troubled employee who has had good work performance in the past.

6. Decide whether you want to help turn this employee around, or start the disciplinary process for firing him.

7. Read your company's written personnel policy procedures and be sure to follow company policies, if applicable.

8. Consult with your supervisor or a Human Resources representative before counseling any employee on a disciplinary manner.

The Conversation with the Employee

9. Schedule a time that will allow for an uninterrupted conversation of at least 1/2 hour in a private place.

10. If appropriate, give the employee ample warning about the meeting and the topic.

11. Use a calm tone of voice and keep judgmental language out of the conversation. "You are not meeting our expected quota" is more tactful than "You are lazy."

12. Explain your concerns clearly and discuss ways the employee can improve. Ask for his suggestions.

13. Allow the employee a period of time to correct the behavior and let him know you will be meeting to assess the employee's progress.

14. Ask the employee to give you his opinion, and listen to it. If the employee has valid excuses, and points out how others or the organization may be at fault, respond with empathy and concern.

15. Have the employee sign paperwork - a plan of attack for improvement, or just a recap of the conversation - that indicates he understands the conversation, even if he doesn't agree with your opinion.

Tips & Warnings

• An employee that is being counseled is often nervous or emotional. Acknowledge their emotion (e.g "I understand you're confused") but keep the focus of the conversation on his job performance.
• Document your conversation in writing.
• If the employee is in a protected class - a minority, over the age of 40, disabled, or a woman - pay close attention to making sure the critique is valid and applicable to everyone in that same job or position, and that the poor performance is well documented.

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[lucyyy]

on 5/1/2009 I second the comment by Anonymous Said. I try to structure that sort of conversation like a sandwich with two positive comments as the bread. So I start out with something they're doing right, then hit them with the bad news, and follow it up with another positive stroke.

[fnima]

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[justo]

on 3/8/2009 It is also good to plan in advance for counseling sked. Excellent article. 5*

on 11/22/2005 It is always a good idea to start out the meeting with something that the person is doing correctly before bringing up where they fall short. That way the meeting is not a totally negative experience.