Leadership Tip

How to motivate a slacker

Everyone has worked with someone who doesn't pull their weight. You often don't know whether to confront the person, speak to your boss, or mind your own business. If someone's slacking is not affecting your work, don’t intervene. But if your job is suffering, here's what to do:

1. Put yourself in their shoes. Do you know the root causes of their behaviour? Slacking doesn't always mean laziness - it could mean difficulty at home or a struggle to understand a new assignment.

2. Converse instead of confront. Speak up, but don't be accusatory. Approach the conversation with a genuine willingness to solve the problem.

3. Stick to the facts. Raise specific examples of the behaviour and explain its impact on you and others. Keep the conversation forward-looking.

4. Be flexible. You might think you know the best way to fix the problem, but you can’t fixate on pre-set solutions. It's more effective to guide the person in exploring different options.


The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.


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