Diagnosing Performance Problems With Performance Management

When an employee is failing at work, I ask the W. Edwards Deming question, “What about the work system is causing the person to fail?” Most frequently, if the employee knows what they are supposed to do, I find the answer is time, tools, training, temperament or talent. The easiest to solve, and the ones most affecting employee retention, are tools, time and training. The employee must have the tools, time and training necessary to do their job well – or they will move to an employer who provides them.

These are the key questions that you and the employee will want to answer to diagnose performance problems that result in the need for your performance management. This checklist for employee performance management will help diagnose the performance issue.

What about the work system is causing the person to fail?

Does the employee know exactly what you want him to do? Does he know the goals and the outcomes expected? Does he share the picture you have for the end result?

Does the employee have confidence in her competence to perform the tasks associated with the goal? In my experience, procrastination is often the result of an employee lacking confidence in her ability to produce the required outcome. Or procrastination can result from the employee being overwhelmed with the magnitude of the task.

Is the employee practicing effective work management? As an example, does he break large tasks into small chunks of doable actions? Does he have a method for tracking project progress and to do lists?

Have you established a critical path for the employee's work? This is the identification of the major milestones in a project at which you'd like feedback from the employee. Do you keep your commitment to attend the meetings at which this feedback is provided?

Does the employee have the appropriate and needed people working with him or the team to accomplish the project? Are other members of the team keeping their commitments and if not, is there something the employee can do to help them?

Does the employee understand how her work fits into the larger scheme of things in the company? Does she appreciate the value her work is adding to the company's success?

Is the employee clear about what constitutes success in your company? Perhaps he thinks that what he is contributing is good work and that you are a picky, overly-managing supervisor.

Does the employee feel valued and recognized for the work she is contributing. Does she feel fairly compensated for her contribution?
Understanding these issues in performance management enables a manager to help an employee succeed. When you follow these steps and answer these questions in a performance management mode, the employee can be helped to succeed. Best wishes with your performance management. Performance management is the best tool you have to encourage and coach employee success at work.

By: Susan M. Healthfield