Sales Truths: Poor Employee Performance Only Gets Worse Over Time

Published

13 years ago

March 22, 2012

Dave Richardson

Sales Truths: Poor Employee Performance Only Gets Worse Over Time

BY DAVID RICHARDSON

Published in the April 2012 issue.

WHY IT IS TRUE: Failure to address the poor performance of one employee sends a clear message to other employees regarding your standards. Taking corrective action against one employee does not lower the morale of other employees. In fact, the opposite is true.

PLAN OF ACTION: People are waiting for you to act; failure to do so may seriously impact not only their performance, but their respect for you. Take the nonperforming staff member aside in your office, close the door, and tell the individual you are dissatisfied with his performance. Specify the areas in which his performance has been substandard, and outline your expectations for improvement. Tell the individual that your door is open anytime, and that you are a champion for his success. Schedule a meeting in a week to evaluate his progress. Document all meetings, and prepare to make a change if necessary. The morale and respect of your remaining staff members will only be enhanced. — DAVE RICHARDSON

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Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.