As a manager, addressing employee errors is a core part of the job. By speaking with the worker when they make a misstep, you can teach them how to avoid similar mistakes in the future while also correcting anything that needs fixing now.
However, it’s also critical to ensure you’re managing employee errors with care, as that allows you to support their well-being while making them more effective in their roles. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are some solutions that work well.
Adopt a Coaching Mindset
One of the most crucial steps you can take to effectively manage employee errors with care is to adopt a coaching mindset. By doing so, you shift your perspective, ensuring you’re focusing on how you can help the employee improve instead of punishing them for a mistake.
Often, adopting a coaching mindset will cause you to adjust how you approach the situation, letting you lead with understanding and compassion. However, it also creates a foundation that allows problems to be addressed directly. As a result, you’ll be supporting the employee’s well-being while also reducing the odds of similar issues in the future.
Be Fact-Oriented
When you talk about a misstep, make sure you’re being fact-oriented. By using a data-centric approach, you keep the conversation focused on what occurred and why it was problematic, all while making it less likely that you’ll react emotionally to the situation.
Being fact-oriented can also bring clarity. It ensures the employee understands why the error is something that needs addressing, all while helping you maintain a metered tone to decrease the chances of them becoming hurt or defensive.
Focus on the Incident, Not the Person
Another key to managing employee errors with care is to make sure you’re working to address the incident in a way that doesn’t diminish them as a person. Essentially, you don’t want to insult who they are as a human being along the way, as doing so can make them defensive or might harm their well-being. Similarly, you want to avoid placing blame, as that takes the discussion in a negative direction and typically doesn’t lead to the best overall results.
Instead, make the situation that unfolded the center of the conversation, leaving out all unnecessary commentary about them as a person. That allows you to remain focused on solving the problem or preventing the error, which is typically far more effective.
It’s often wise to even take a moment to reassure the employee during the discussion. Let them know that mistakes happen, and your goal is to provide them with tools that make them less likely to happen in the future. Ultimately, that’s often well-received, ensuring the employee remains engaged and feels supported along the way.
In the end, the tips above can make managing employee errors with care and effectively simpler, ensuring issues are addressed while supporting the well-being of your workforce. If you’d like to learn more or want to partner with a recruitment agency to fill vacant open positions efficiently, Premier Staffing Inc. wants to hear from you. Contact us today.