Top Reasons Employees Don’t Do What They Are Supposed To

#1 They don’t know they are supposed to

Managers need to set realistic yet challenging job expectations. Disappointment is as much about expectations as anything. The challenge of all employees is to set realistic expectations and over deliver.

#2 They think they are

If employees are not meeting the mark, they need to receive proper feedback. Research shows that employees rarely receive enough feedback. As a manager, the challenge is to say what needs to be said, while preserving a good working relationship. Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Keep it between the ditches”. In this saying, the ditch is a metaphor of a dangerous place to drive. In crucial conversations, it’s dangerous not to discuss the un-discussable. It’s also dangerous when the message severs or damages the working relationship. Cultivate the skill of crucial conversations.

#3 They don’t know how

Before managers move to documentation and punishment, they should teach the employee the critical skills of the job. Is the problem a lack of commitment or a lack of competence. If you put a gun to the employees head, could they do the task. If the answer is no, then the problem is not a lack of commitment. Cultivate the ability to coach and develop the critical skills for employee success.