As business owners and managers, we’ve all experienced internal conflict regarding what to do about an under-performing team member. Obviously, turnover is a huge expense, especially when you think about all the time and money you invested in that individual, from recruiting to training to certifications. Most people also feel some personal loyalty to their team members, but at some point, what really matters is their commitment to growth and results.
When a team member doesn’t seem to be following the vision or goals of the company and we’re not sure what to do, we find ourselves in the battle between firing them or giving them another chance. In most small businesses, we end up spending as much time with our team members at the company as we do with our families, which inevitably creates a personal bond. We learn about their families, who they are as people, their interests and their personalities.