You are an Employer?

Question

An employee has performed a task short of your expectations. When you question the employee, he responds, "I did my best".
How would you respond as the employer.

Answer 1

First, I would determine if my instructions were lacking or not clear enough. I would also consider if the task was not the right match for that employee.

Second, I would explain my vision for the project and see if the employee could be reworked.

Finally, I would either reassign the task to someone else or work with the employee to help them get on the same page.

I believe in the top-down model of employee management. It is too expensive and time-consuming to terminate, hire and train someone new, so I try to work with what I have. After all, there was a reason the person was initially hired. They must have a desirable skill set.

Answer 2

There are two main things that an employee brings to the table: skills and attitude. If the person wants to really do well in a position, then he/she can be taught. If the "I did my best" is just an excuse, then you get to deal with the attitude.

I like the principle of managing for results. Peter Drucker's The Effective Executive shows you how to do this concisely. One tool he mentions is the Manager's Letter. It's a letter written by the employee to the manager that outlines: the purpose of the company, the purpose of the employee, the results the employee is committed to acheiving, the assistance the employee will require, and how the employee's work fits into the purpose of the company. It's a tool that I'd use AFTER getting a feel for how it works (by reading the book). It's not a tool to humiliate a person, or just give them busy work. When done authentically, it's a formal way of creating a meaningful working relationship between the parties.

I'd also recommend Inc Magazine's website. They've got a section there for employers and motivating employees. Also, Harvard Business Press has a website full of case studies and articles that are the best in the industry. You'll find concepts and frameworks for training, management practices, human resource management, etc.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Just want to let you know this is below what we'd expect from an employee here, so if this was truly your best, we have a problem.

Answer 4

Tell them what your expectations where....and then discuss with the employee how they can preform the task differently.

Answer 5

I need someone who can do better, do some research on the job title and if you dont improve I may need to down size you and get someone who can do better.

Answer 6

You're a douchebag, edward. You know that , don't you?