A new manager is seeking advice on a direct report's declining performance despite showing promise during probation.
The manager is unsure if the direct report is lazy or facing personal issues impacting work performance.
The coach advises against labeling the employee as lazy and suggests exploring potential underlying reasons for the decline.
Potential factors affecting the direct report's performance include personal issues, workplace-related issues, motivational drop, and more.
The coach recommends having an open conversation with the employee to understand the root cause of the performance decline.
Addressing the concern that letting go of the employee might lead to others disliking the manager, the coach emphasizes the importance of upholding performance standards for team integrity.
While acknowledging the difficulty of managing such situations, the coach advises the manager to focus on creating a fair work environment for all team members.
Ultimately, the coach encourages the manager to take necessary steps, including letting go of the underperforming employee if efforts to improve performance fail.
The advice highlights the importance of maintaining team respect by effectively managing performance issues within the organization.
The article concludes with insights on leadership challenges and the learning opportunities that arise from managing underperforming employees.