Leadership Focus

By Priscilla Luzader Pipho

April 8, 2021

Tough Remote Conversations

We’ve all learned how to have difficult conversations at work as managers. We set expectations and share them with our staff. We have follow-up conversations and think we are on the same page, and then the same issue comes up again. Baffled, we take a deep breath and try again.

And then we moved home to work remotely.

Remotely delivering bad news

There’s no easy way to put it, but it needs to be said. When performance expectations are not met, regardless of the current pandemic and remote working, we all need to be held accountable. Leaders who have managed people successfully know the formula for keeping the communication clear and focused and managing for results.

• Have the conversation with your team member early. Giving too many passes on performance issues sends the message that you are ok with the level of performance. 
• Allow your employee to discuss the stresses and frustrations of working remotely. Be sympathetic, remove what obstacles you can, but be clear on expectations.
• Schedule a follow-up conversation to discuss progress. Give them a few days to think about how things will be different and provide clear milestones of what you need to see by when. 
• If progress is not sufficient, make sure you have discussed consequences. Then be prepared to deliver.
• Do not shy away from managing behaviors. If your employee is simply difficult to work with but gets their work done, think of what that does to your culture if you keep them on your team. Let your expectations for attitude be clear. 
• During remote times, staff members need a bit of extra grace so be gracious but set boundaries. Listen to concerns but reiterate your need for compliance. 
• Make sure you are working with your HR department throughout this so that you are following policies and you have an ally who will back you up when it comes time to make the tough decision.

I’ve always said that while we need to hire well, we also need to fire well. Communicating clearly along the way should help you attain the “no surprises” ideal. If you have been super clear, most people will start the self-selection process and may even ask for your help. There can even be an opportunity to help provide a soft landing. A great leader learns to do the difficult task with kindness and compassion.