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Earning Your PhD in Counseling

Learning to effectively confront your team

Let;s face it: Your best asset is your people! But one common area of discomfort with many managers is disciplining or counseling employees. Most people don't enjoy confrontational situations, and the first mistake some managers make is assuming that counseling an employee falls into that category.

A counseling session with any employee will be as comfortable or uncomfortable as you make it.

Case Study:

I worked with a Service Advisor who was underperforming in some very key areas. During a few one on one sessions meant to coach this person through it, I explained the key elements to overcoming the problems areas. Additional training and information were supplied to give this person the best chance to succeed. There came a time however, where it did not appear that these coaching sessions were helping. The time had come for a "tougher" conversation in which I explained that if there were not substantial improvements in performance, the person would have to be replaced. In my mind, the conversation would be tough to hear if I were on the other end of it, but I was surprised to hear the employee's response at the conclusion of our chat.

"Well I think that even though this wasn't pleasant, I'm glad we talked, because I know where I stand."

This is an affirming event and statement for me, in the belief that even if it's negative feedback, employees want to know how they are doing.

Regular Evaluations

Employee Evaluations will help to let people in your organization know how you think they are performing. Also dynamic and "happens as they're needed" counseling sessions should be something you look forward to, because they show interest in your people. It's a very important thing for managers to remember this key piece of information (and to pass it on to employees, whether in a formal review, or an unplanned counseling session):

You are evaluating the performance, not condemning the performer.

To learn more about building an environment best suited to make your business successful, sign up today for an "In-Dealership" Consultation.