Guest Blogger- Kathleen Weiss, SPHR, Director of Human Resources for SWK Technologies, Inc.

I have worked with Kathleen Weiss for several years now and I have found her to be knowledgeable and inciteful on many HR topics. For this reason,  I have invited her to be the first of a series of HRMG guest bloggers who will contribute to the HR, payroll, recruiting or training content on our blog. She is Director of Human Resources for SWK Technologies, an Alliance Partner with HRMG Solutions on the Sage MAS accounting side of the family. To read the full article, be sure to use the link to click through to her SWK Insider Newsletter. Enjoy!

Ted Morse, President

HRMG Solutions, Inc.

Dear Kathleen:
Q – How do we help our managers provide performance guidance without destroying the moral of the employee?

A – Negative feedback is difficult for anyone to receive, especially if it is delivered in an abrasive or discouraging way. The purpose of feedback – whether coaching, mentoring or discipline – is so the employee will rise to the level of performance needed for the success of that position. Conveying the employee’s weakness, while keeping the employee motivated, is an essential part of being a good leader.

Try these basic steps:

1. Take a deep breath. It’s often difficult to give criticism, especially when you work closely with your employees. Realize that providing constructive feedback is part of management’s job on behalf of the company to improve operations. It’s not always comfortable, but a necessity of any business.
2. Step back from the situation for a moment and approach it from a perspective of curiosity. Many managers make the mistake of pouncing too quickly without asking questions. Did the employee perform poorly because s(he) needs additional training? Has the performance been great and suddenly faltered? Think about the entire situation and performance history of the employee.
3. Just the facts. Keep your discussion strictly fact based. Point out specific situations. This is not personal; it’s business and it’s best to keep it that way. Here are some examples: read more.. 

“Dear Kathleen” is a monthly Human Resources advice column written by Kathleen Weiss, SPHR, Director of Human Resources for SWK Technologies, Inc.

To Ask Kathleen an HR question, contact her at kathleen.weiss@swktech.com. SWK’s HR Advisor services provide cost-effective human resources solutions to small businesses.