If Your Team Is Experiencing Performance Issues, Ask Yourself Some Questions

No matter how competent a team is or how skilled a manager you are, there will be times when frustrations set in. “They’re just not doing their jobs,” is a common gripe with no clear solution. Rather than let resentment set in, it helps if managers seek to understand why. You can ask several questions when your team isn’t performing up to your expectations, and the first has to do with exactly that—have you been clear in your expected work outcomes? Reflect on how effectively you shared what your expectations are in terms of deliverables and results. Identifying what success looks like in concrete terms will help your team members know what to prioritize. It also helps to ask yourself if your expectations are reasonable. Do your team members have the tools and skills necessary to accomplish what you expect of them? It might be helpful to perform an informal skills inventory to ensure your team members are equipped to do what you’re asking them to do. If skills gaps are identified, you should provide training and support to ensure they can do their jobs effectively now and in the future.