A reader asks:
I handle a crew and have run into an issue with “Bob,” one in all my workers. Bob loves this job. Tells me virtually day-after-day how a lot he loves being at this firm. However as a lot as he loves his job, he’s not superb at it. He’s gotten us incorrect info and turns in incomplete notes. He tries to deal with increasingly more initiatives, however it’s resulting in him misinterpreting info, making inaccurate conclusions, and customarily dropping the ball. His colleagues are annoyed as a result of they can’t depend on his analysis — it usually leads to extra work for them as they fact-check his info.
He additionally peppers me with strategies to enhance the crew — I’ve gotten as much as 10 emails in a day: we must always use Slack, we must always get t-shirts and hats made, we must always ship autographed playing cards to individuals who write to us. Not dangerous concepts, per se — simply not concepts which are notably efficient or actionable. He additionally wastes my time by giving me the blow-by-blow of his initiatives, and asking for my approval earlier than taking subsequent steps on them. I’ve let him know earlier than if I don’t have time for prolonged conversations on these updates, however he simply comes again later with extra.
Bob has began asking if he can attend manufacturing conferences, which is totally not part of his job, and I concern his overly-helpful nature will result in him disrupting the conferences.
I assume what I’m asking is: how do I crush this man’s spirit in a productive method? He desires so badly to assist and do extra — however he’s messing up on fundamentals of his job as it’s. I would like him to decelerate, take extra time together with his precise work, and rein in all of the extras, however I don’t need him to lose the drive that makes him a devoted employee. And he’s a devoted employee — punctual, energetic, keen to assist out in a pinch, all the time fascinated about how one can make issues higher. Do I break it gently and sofa it in reward for his good attributes? Or do I take the no-nonsense strategy and provides him simply the chilly onerous details?
I reply this query over at Inc. in the present day, the place I’m revisiting letters which were buried within the archives right here from years in the past (and generally updating/increasing my solutions to them). You’ll be able to learn it right here.