Time Out for Effective Discipline
October 17, 2006
Most managers and team leaders don’t like the idea of having to discipline employees. Even though they know it is desperately needed, they still can’t bring themselves to do it. They operate in the world of the five myths of discipline.
Myth 1: Ignore it until later; it might go away.
Myth 2: Focus first on the positive and dance around the issue.
Myth 3: Give the bad news quickly, and get them out the door; it will be easier for both of you.
Myth 4: Don’t document the disciplinary action, so it won’t be on their record - you don’t want them to get in trouble.
Myth 5: Once you’ve talked to the employee, breathe a sigh of relief, your work is done.
Keeping them Engaged
The truth is that you can’t dance around discipline. You have to treat employees with respect, even when it comes to discipline. The employee needs to be fully engaged in recognizing the issues and being a part of the solution.
Learning and performance professionals should know that engaged employees can make a dramatic impact on their company’s bottom-line. Employees can’t do that if concerns about their work behavior are ignored. There is no way that they can be fully involved with the team.
A recent study conducted by ISR, an employee research consulting firm, shows that there is a significant relationship between business results and the extent to which employees stay committed to company values, feel pride in working for the company, and are motivated to go the extra mile.
Case in Point
Lilia and Jeff were model co-workers until Lilia noticed that Jeff was leaving some of his work at the end of the day for her to finish up. They begin to exchange barbs with each other every morning. Gradually the barbs led to more heated discussions.
Employees wondered why “management” ignored the problem. Team members began to take sides and productivity slipped. Sound familiar?
Avoiding the Rut of Managing Among the Myths
A consistent process of effective discipline sets expectations for all employees. And, when company rules for discipline are clear, you empower your employees, yourself and your managers to handle conflict effectively. Increase company productivity with more engaged employees. Finally, you can ensure the company complies with legal requirements.
Improve morale, engagement, and productivity! Learn how to bring your managers out of the fog of discipline myths. Learn the techniques of effective discipline.
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