how to manage difficult government employees feb 2015
TRANSCRIPT
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How to Manage Difficult
Government EmployeesPRESENTED BY STEWART LIFF
FEBRUARY 12, 2015
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ABOUT STEWART LIFF
• Author of 7 books including: – 98 Opportunities to Improve
Management in Government
– A Team of Leaders
• 32 years with the government,
many in HRM
• SES for 12 years
• Represented the government
on 30 hearings
• Now a PI Fellow, consultant,
speaker and teacher
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Also a classically trained fine artist
ABOUT STEWART LIFF
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
According to McKinsey:
“…negative interactions with
bosses and coworkers have five
times more impact than positive
ones.”
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Of surveyed employees:
• 28% agreed that in their work
unit, steps are taken to deal
with a poor performer who
cannot or will not improve
The trend has been negative,
since in 2011, 31% agreed with
this statement.
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
• It’s all about building an
engaged, committed and high
performing workforce
• To do this, you need to win the
battle for the hearts and minds
of the middle 80%
• Why managers struggle to deal
with difficult employees
• All you need is the will and the
skill
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Five Warning Signs of Difficult Employees:
1. All the employees knows who they are
2. They tend to be cynical and see the worst in others
3. They are unusually critical of management
4. They rarely take responsibility for their actions
5. They undermine your organization
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
The Four Keys:
• Your management team/your
advisors
• Your approach
• Attitude/Fear
• Lessons learned
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Your management team
• Everyone must be on the same page
Your HRM advisor
• What’s his/her philosophy?
• If they doesn’t give good advice, get another advisor
The Impact of Reinventing
Government
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Suggested Approach:
• Identify the problem employees (everyone knows who they are)
• Don’t give up before you start
• Deal with them (don’t move them around)
• Keep it simple stupid
• Use the probationary period
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Suggested Approach (continued):
• You should serve rather than
receive
• If they never cross the line, change
the line
• The objective is to be on offense,
not defense
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
How to Deal with a Difficult Employee:
• Let the employee know your expectations
• Let the employee know when there is a behavior and/or performance issue*
• Listen to the employee’s perspective
• Tell the employee what he/she needs to do to improve
• Advise the employee of the consequences if he/she doesn’t improve
• Help the employee improve
• Take the appropriate action if he/she doesn’t improve
The principle of reliable consequences
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
How to Terminate for Conduct:
• If you’re going to take an
action, take a strong one
• Bring a problem to a head
ASAP
• Don’t misunderstand
progressive discipline
• You’ve got the weight of the
government behind you
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Performance-based Action:
• PIP
• If employee fails, must prove
case by substantial evidence
• 3rd party can not mitigate
Conduct-based Action:
• No PIP
• Must prove case by
preponderance of evidence
• 3rd party can mitigate
(reassignment, demotion,
suspension)
Performance: Two Possible Approaches
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Your Mindset:
• Yes, you can remove a federal
employee – it’s up to you
• Relatively few removals are
reversed by third parties
• Plenty of chances to settle
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
If You Go to a 3rd Party:
• Have an expert represent you
• Have good documentation
• Prepare your witnesses*
• Whoever paints the better
picture wins
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Lessons Learned:
• Document, document, document…
• You don’t need a perfect case
• Avoid 3rd parties if you can, but don’t fear them
• Better to occasionally lose a case than to never take an action
• Let them fight you from the outside
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HOW TO MANAGE DIFFICULT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Any Questions?
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THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
Performance Institute
www.performanceinstitute.org | 877-992-9521
Stewart Liff, PI Fellow
www.stewartliff.com
661-714-8958 | @stewartliff
Reminder: April 20-21, 2015 PI Training Class
Managing Individual and Organizational
Performance