How To Have Challenging Conversations With Employees
Are you a business owner? Many responsibilities come along with that job position. Some that you may not be too fond of having to take care of. One of those responsibilities is having difficult conversations with employees. It can be a real challenge for some people to have these conversations, but we talk about some points to make it easier in this article.
Choose The Right Environments
When you need to confront an employee, it is not ideal to do it in front of other employees. Shame and embarrassment are not the answer to any situation. If you need to speak with someone about a difficult situation, choose an environment that suits the topic of conversation.
If you have an employee not performing as they should, choose a professionally suitable location for that type of conversation. Conversations that are less serious and intense, maybe meeting over lunch or coffee is appropriate. Base the location on the kind of topics you will be discussing with your employee.
Come In With A Even Temper
A conversation that starts in anger is not going to go very well. Some situations happen and occur that may have you pretty heated. Take the time to calm down and collect your thoughts before meeting with the involved employee.
The same goes for the employee you are conversing with. Some people do not handle being told that they are not performing as well as you wish they would. This may result in them getting heated and upset. It is your job as the leader to control the temperament of the situation to the best of your ability.
Preparation Is Key
A meeting that is not well thought out and prepared is not going to result in much success. You want to approach a professional business meeting with the proper amount of preparation. Make notes and write down key points you want to cover in the discussion.
It can be easy to get sidetracked or forget some things you wanted to cover in the meeting. If you prepare ahead of time, you can have notes to help you remember all that needs to be discussed. This also allows you to have real-life scenarios to show as examples in the meeting.
Follow Up
Don’t leave situations hanging. Follow up with the employee and make sure everything is going okay. Let them know that you are there to help and guide them in any problem that arises.
We would love to hear your comments.
Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com
Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com
574.361.2674
Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.