WOW Word-Of-the-Week #434: Performance
November 29, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #434: Performance
Performance – the act of accomplishing something successfully.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your performance? If you are a manager how would you rate your current staff on performance? Or do you have co-workers that are slackers? How often have you had to cover for them?
This week’s WOW features an LA Times article written by Tiffany Hsu titled, “Slackers suck up managers’ time” and subtitled “Bosses spend almost a day a week dealing with poor performers, a report says.”
Tiffany starts on writing, “Slacker employees don’t pull their weight. Bur they do a great job attaching it to their bosses.
Managers spend nearly 17% of their working hours dealing with poor performers, according to a report from staffing firm Robert Half International. That’s basically a full day a week that could have been spent being productive.
And sucking up supervisor’s time isn’t the only downside to subpar workers. Of the more than 1400 chief financial officers interviewed by Robert Half, 95% said laggards can bring down office spirits. Bad hires are costly, not just for the drain they place on the budget but also in terms of lost morale, productivity and time.”
The article states three ways to best avoid hiring slackers.
- Managers should ask current employees what they’re looking for in a teammate instead of just relying on their own instincts.
- To avoid losing a promising worker they should hire them immediately.
- A company should pay employees what they deserve. They’re more likely to want to work harder.
This week’s focus is on performance. How many of your co-workers are slackers? How does that make you feel? As a manager do you have your staff help with the hiring decisions? Do you pay your staff what they deserve? How much time do you spend each week dealing with poor performers?
Reader Responses
“We have very few slackers in our office, which makes it easy to come to work every day. In fact, it is the ordinary office workers – The Worker Bees – who do great work every day. And some even come in on weekends to complete their work for the following Monday morning. It is a pleasure to work with these people, who not only take their work seriously but take great pride in doing a job well. The first time, every time.” – “Warrior” Joe
We have very few slackers in our office, which makes it easy to come to work every day. In fact, it is the ordinary office workers – The Worker Bees – who do great work every day. And some even come in on weekends to complete their work for the following Monday morning. It is a pleasure to work with these people, who not only take their work seriously but take great pride in doing a job well. The first time, every time. Have a wonderful weekend. We are taking the girls with us tomorrow night to pick out our tree. Take care, Susan. “Warrior” Joe
Testimonials: Performance Improvement
March 28, 2009 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Testimonials: Performance Improvement
“I can honestly say I have not looked at my career path the same since I went through the Success Discovery Process with Susan.”
—Nancy M. Everitt, Senior Vice President
Barron Financial Services
“I attended your program and it had the greatest effect on me. After listening to you speak I purchased your books. I feel so positive, and not a positive that fades, but a feeling I can work with and use. I feel once again that I CAN AND DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!”
—Julie Goff, Lounge Manager
Best Western Marshall Inn
“Since we initiated the Spirit of Service video tapes presentation, I feel that the following improvements are a direct result of the videos: Dining room employees morale is improved
• Dining room cocktail sales are improving
• Appetizer and dessert sales have improved
• Waiter and waitress tips are increasing”
—Dennis Buffington, Assistant Manager
Best Western Regency Inn
“We conducted our first training session with the tapes on Saturday before Mother’s Day. Just before we opened for business on Mother’s Day I went to the store and got a small jar of bubbles; came back to the restaurant and started blowing bubbles in the wait station just as we were opening. Everybody started laughing and some of the servers (halfway through our serving hours) were humming ‘Tiny Bubbles’ as they came in and out of the wait station. It works! It was probably good that I was the one to do it as I am usually the “frowning” one. It broke the ice and we had a Mother’s Day that went like clockwork!”
—Jim Dietz
Smith’s Row Food & Spirits
“Just a note to tell you that I sincerely enjoyed your presentation re: Generation X & Y. Took the material back to my Staff and have instructed my Dining Room Manager (who is re-writing our training manual) to look at your videos and use them. Also, I used your “Positive Attitude” pin on my best server with the caveat that if she didn’t continue to be her bubbly self, I would take it and award it to the next server with a PMA. Boy, has this caused ripples – she shows it to all the Members and treats it as a badge of honor. Now every server wants one. Where can I get some more?”
—Tom Goss, General Manager
Rolling Road Golf Club