The Management Bible

Chapter 14. Discipline and Corrective Action

IT'S A NEW WORLD OUT THERE ...

Discipline and ...

• How it helps managers correct employee performance.

• Discipline isn't a dirty word.

• Focusing on employee performance instead of personalities.

• Dealing with performance issues versus misconduct.

• How to discipline employees.

• Looking to the future.

WHY DISCIPLINE?

Every manager dreams of a workplace where every employee does the job he or she was hired to do and does it well. Of course, in the real world, your employees will make mistakes, and some will sometimes exhibit poor attitudes. While everyone makes the occasional mistake, when your employees make repeated, serious mistakes, when they fail to meet their performance goals and standards, or when it seems that they'd rather be working anywhere but where they are, you will need to discipline your employees. Why?

First, employees who aren't doing the job cost your organization more than do the employees who are. Poor performance and poor attitudes directly and negatively impact your work unit's ability to be efficient and effective.

Second, if other employees see that you're letting their coworkers get away with poor performance, they will often follow suit, decreasing the morale and performance of your entire work unit as a result.

In this chapter, we explore the importance of dealing with employee performance issues before they become major problems that can impact your entire organization. We'll find out why it's important to focus on performance ...