When Ignorance Isn’t Bliss
Raising the Bar
It's easy to let the situation fester. But without feedback,
incompetent employees overestimate themselves even more, according
to Dunning. "These people need a strong external push,"
he says. Meet privately with them, and be prepared for resistance.
"They will argue back with their positive qualities and why
they should keep doing a task," Dunning says. You'll need to back up your arguments with concrete
evidence. Show the employee examples of good work, and explain what
you expect. Keep the focus on performance, set benchmarks over a
specific period of time, and use 360-degree feedback. Offer
training, too. If you have an employee who insists on writing
company reports but lacks competency, explain why you can't use
him or her on the project and offer some training. "If you
have to give the project to someone else, explain that it's a
hard decision and say ‘This is what I want you to work
on,' " Dunning says. "Opportunities for training are
important." These overconfident types, however, may not see the need for
training. In fact, Frank Shipper, a management professor at the
Perdue School of Business at Salisbury State University in
Salisbury, Maryland, warns that incompetent employees who can't
see their deficits may just lead you around in circles. "Even
when you're blunt, they won't see it," Shipper says.
"It all hinges on the employee's acceptance of the
problem." If all else fails, it may be better to cut your
losses. "You just can't save some people from themselves.
Entrepreneurs can work too long trying to fix things." Content Continues Below
Smith's solution was a 45-day review period along with
grammar and computer classes at the company's expense, a
proposal the employee found insulting. Instead, the employee wanted
a raise, a personal assistant, a new computer and more
responsibility. "In her mind, she was a great writer and
communicator who had a college degree," Smith says. "She
simply couldn't see the need to improve." Not long after, the employee told Smith she was looking for
another job, and the two mutually agreed that it was time to part
company. "It's sad," says Smith. "But at the end
of the day, you have to make good business decisions for your
customers."
Chris Penttila is a freelance journalist in Carrboro, North
Carolina. Her Web site is www.sitting-duck.com.
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