Sometimes personal problems are at the root of an employee’s declining job performance. When this happens, the manager must recognize the problem and speak up. For many managers, it is a difficult conversation, but a critical one for the success of the individual and the work group.
The first step is to recognize that there is a problem. The issues that adversely affect someone’s performance are varied, but often manifest themselves in similar ways. Here are some behaviors that you might notice when an individual is experiencing personal problems. Think about someone who isn’t performing well, and ask yourself the following questions.
9 Questions about an Employee’s Performance
1. Does the employee have more one-day absences than others in the group?
2. Is the employee often late arriving in the morning or returning after lunch?
3. Are there periods in the day when the employee is nowhere to be found?
4. Is the employee overly sensitive or defensive when subjected to feedback or constructive criticism?
5. Do you find yourself “walking on eggshells” for fear of an emotional reaction or outburst?
6. Does the employee seem distracted or have difficulty thinking things through?
7. Are there often loose ends or abandoned tasks or where projects seem to fall into a “black hold?”
8. Does the employee find it difficult to maintain good working relationships with others?
9. Has the quality or quantity of the employee’s work declined over past six months?
Was “yes” the answer to any of these questions? Any “yes” answer could indicate a personal or stress-related issue. The employee could be having serious marital, financial, or health problems, or could be suffering from depression. There might be elder or child care issues plaguing this employee. Substance abuse could also be at the root cause of the problem.
It’s not your job to diagnose the employee!
All you have to do is recognize that there may be a need to offer help. Call the EAP and discuss your concerns. The EAP will walk you through a possible intervention. By intervening before a crisis, an employee may be able to seek treatment at an early stage.
So…who’s on your mind today?
