Signs of a Misplaced Employee
Do you have an employee who possesses all the attributes you want in your staff, but just doesn't do his or her job that well? Instead of letting that person go, reassign them to another role.
You probably have very specific roles that each employee must fill and don't have the resources to cover that staff member until he/she starts performing better. That being said, some employees are worth keeping. When this happens, analyze the factors that may be keeping him from doing his best work, and see if you can find a solution.
Your employee will appreciate your understanding and willingness to work with him, and will hopefully reward you with loyalty and dedication for years to come.
How do you know if an employee is “misplaced”? Here are some signs:
1. Sometimes poor performance corresponds with a poor attitude. In these cases, it's probably best to let this person go. However, an employee with a positive outlook even when they have difficulty fulfilling assigned tasks probably genuinely wants to be there, and likely possesses the personality traits that will make them a loyal, hardworking employee in the long run. Consider additional training or shifting this employee to tasks he/she can better perform.
2. Sometimes a person simply isn't hired for the job they could best perform. Think about areas where they have shown talents. For example, you've hired a warehouse manager who isn't performing to your satisfaction, but does a great job covering the phones. This person may thrive in a more interactive position and would make a good customer service representative.
3. Employees with too many or too few qualifications are hired all the time for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your hire's resume didn't accurately reflect their skill set, or you were desperate to fill the position at the exact moment he/she came along. If you’re dealing with this situation, perhaps adding additional tasks or responsibilities would perk up their performance. Under-qualified employees with potential may be worth keeping around. Scale back their responsibilities or have a more experienced staff member mentor them until they gain the confidence and skills needed to perform their job duties.