Page 114 - Anne Bruce - Building A HIgh Morale Workplace (2002)

94 Building a High Morale Workplace

• Be clear and upfront about your objectives for meeting
with this employee and your desire to help no matter what
the problem. Reiterate your expectations for performance.

Explain that you’re depending on this employee to get the
job done. Also explain your concern about the effects of
poor performance on the team and their morale. Try to
resist becoming entangled in your employee’s personal

life. However, that should not keep you from being com-
passionate, understanding, and genuinely concerned for
the well-being of your employee.
• Help uncover options. Examine the possibilities and
choices available, depending on the problem. Effectively

coach your employee to help him or her make a decision,
but don’t tell your employee what to do or how to do it.
• At some point you’ll have to discuss the consequences if
the performance problem continues or if the employee
refuses help. Be honest and direct about the matter.

• Provide your employee with every opportunity to save
face and bounce back successfully. That’s what great
managers do best: they help their people succeed.
• Always protect the confidentiality and privacy of your
employees. Never repeat something about an employee’s

personal life without his or her permission to do so. Your
credibility as a manager is on the line.
• Finally, set a time to meet again and review the corrective
actions that the two of you have agreed on. That might

include a leave of absence, a long weekend, a transfer

What to Do if an Employee Refuses Help
If an employee doesn’t respond to your suggestions for
assistance, do not make threats a part of the discussion.The
objective is to clear the air and solve the performance problem
together. Help your employee to reconsider. Explain again the
demands of the job and how his or her behavior affects other people.
Discuss whether or not the job is still a good fit and then explore
other options available to the employee. Never offer solutions or
options that you’re not willing or able to provide or support.