Managing Poor Performance - Adelaide

Managing Poor Performance - Adelaide

You know that sinking feeling when one of your team members just isn't cutting it, and you've been putting off the conversation for weeks? Maybe they're missing deadlines, their work quality has dropped, or they seem completely disengaged. Every day you delay addressing it, the situation gets worse, other team members get frustrated, and you're stuck wondering if you're being too harsh or not firm enough.

Here's the thing - most managers hate these conversations because they've never been taught how to handle them properly. You either come across as the bad guy who's picking on someone, or you're so worried about hurting feelings that nothing actually changes. Neither approach works, and both leave everyone feeling terrible.

In this practical session, we'll tackle the real stuff that happens in workplaces every day. Like when someone's personal issues are affecting their work, when a previously good performer suddenly goes downhill, or when you've got that person who argues with every piece of feedback you give them. We're not talking about theory here - we're talking about actual conversations you can have Monday morning that will get results without destroying relationships.

You'll learn how to spot the difference between someone who can't do the job and someone who won't do the job - because the approach for each is completely different. We'll cover how to document issues properly (without drowning in paperwork), how to set clear expectations that people actually understand, and most importantly, how to have these tough conversations in a way that motivates rather than deflates. Plus, we'll show you how to protect yourself and your organisation legally while still being human about it.

The best part? You'll practice with real scenarios, so you're not fumbling for words when you're back at work. We've seen managers completely transform their approach after understanding that poor performance often stems from unclear expectations rather than bad intentions.

What You'll Learn:
- How to identify the root causes of poor performance before jumping to solutions
- A step-by-step framework for having performance conversations that don't feel like attacks
- How to create performance improvement plans that actually work
- Ways to document everything properly without becoming a bureaucrat
- Techniques for staying calm and professional when people get defensive
- How to know when it's time to escalate or move toward termination
- Strategies for supporting good performers while dealing with poor ones

The Bottom Line

Managing poor performance doesn't have to be the worst part of your job. When you know how to approach these situations with confidence and clarity, you'll find that most performance issues can be turned around. And for those that can't? You'll know you've done everything right, which makes the tough decisions easier to live with. Your good performers will respect you more, your workplace culture will improve, and you'll sleep better knowing you're addressing problems instead of hoping they'll magically disappear. Because let's face it - they never do, but with the right approach, you can transform your team's overall performance.