Managing Performance - You Can Be Too Nice Trying to Keep the Peace

Every bit of advice on how to be a good manager emphasizes how important it is to have good people skills. You need to know how to:

• Communicate effectively
  
• Motivate and inspire your team
  
• Resolve conflict
  
• Build trust
  
• Show empathy…and the list goes on.
  

It is hard to imagine that if you move too far toward the “good guy approach” you could undermine your effectiveness as a manager. But it can happen. 

Here is an example from performance management training. Let’s say you have a substandard performer on your team. You like this person and they like you. They are not pulling their weight but, you think, perhaps no one else has noticed and they are likely to improve with time. You don’t want to rock the boat, upset the team, and look for a replacement. You want to be seen as supportive, caring and loyal. But when you let this color your judgment and delay corrective action, you are doing yourself, your team and your underperforming employee a disservice.

Granted, tough people calls are difficult especially for managers who are caring and empathic. But your job requires direct, fact-based, objective feedback on a team member’s shortfalls. Be respectful but save your team and yourself by taking action and maintaining accountability in timely fashion.

Learn more at: http://www.lsaglobal.com/performance-management-training-consulting/