Good morning!
HR leaders are in charge of all sorts of things, from digital transformations to succession planning. But CHROs are also famously—or infamously—tasked with taking on and managing underperforming employees.
The problem of a struggling staffer is eternal, but there are certain extenuating factors right now that may be making matters worse for the workforce as a whole: a mental health crisis, widespread feelings of disconnect, and a dawning awareness that most people are operating on the brink of burnout.
My colleague Emma Burleigh reached out to more than a dozen top career experts and people leaders from companies including Microsoft, Salesforce, and EY, to get their advice on how to handle staffers who are struggling in their current role.
“We don’t need to prevent underperformance. The reality is it can happen,” said Ginnie Carlier, vice chair of talent for EY Americas.
Experts delivered some evergreen advice that many managers are familiar with, including setting crystal clear expectations about what the job involves, and being consistent with follow up conversations about how the employee is doing. But they also recommended that CHROs lean more towards the carrot than the stick when it comes to leading people.
That includes creating growth opportunities for employees who may have lost sight of their career path at the company, figuring out a different role that the employee might be better suited for, and above all, interacting with empathy. Employees are often doing their best with invisible weights tied around their legs, and people leaders need to be mindful of the different challenges workers are up against.
“By building empathy with the employee, you develop an understanding of the full scope of what might be affecting their work, including stress, burnout, or personal concerns," says Denis Hickey, VP of total rewards at Wellhub, a corporate wellness platform. "You can collaboratively develop a plan that addresses both performance and their wellbeing."
Azure Gilman
azure.gilman@fortune.com
Today's edition was curated by Emma Burleigh.
