Question

Imagine you have just taken over a small tax accounting firm where you find out your employees are lazy and sloppy in their work. Describe the leadership techniques you would use to correct this. Show the steps of the process you would recommend.

Answer 1

As I have just taken over the small firm and found out that employees are lazy and sloppy in their work, its imperative to do the following :

• What is the root cause for this ?
  • Wrong fitment ?
  • Poor pay ?
  • Bad management style
  • Lack of direction, appreciation and empathy
• Is it a domino effect led by one person or its the same across the board ?
• Is it an impact of change of ownership or this has been the case before as well ?
• Is it possible that there isnt enough work ?
• Is it possible that the goal setting is incorrect ?

I would prefer the "Authoritative Style" . I would implement the following techniques/process :

• Quick Decision and Corrective actions : Its important to set the tone right - if one gets away with it, everyone will believe that they can get away as well.
• Root Cause Analysis using Fish Bone Structure or 7 Why appraoch to identify the key issues, key influencing factor. Is is the skill set issue ? pay issue ? or client led issue ? or something else ?
• Fact's only : Make sure that everything I do, say or discuss is based with facts, this will help build confidence, trust and professional courtesy in the team members. This also gives me the clear understanding of whats really happening in the company
• Open and Direct Communication : Its important to call a spade spade. If someone is better appreciate it, of someone is doing bad - confront directly. Its important to establish an open line of communication with the employees. Any feedback coming in from any employee is responded to.
• Share my Vision and Mission for the employees : Using the established communication line, I would share the vision and mission for the firm as I see. I would also share the key goals that our short term and long term plan should accomplish
• Develop Joint progress plan : WIth the key leaders in the firm, I would work jointly to develop the short term and long term plan with specific KPI and goals for each individual, this will not just give them a feeling of ownership but also reason for being motivated to achieve the goal they themselves set.
• Daily,Weekly, Monthly Cadence and Review mechanism : Post all of this,I would work with Finance and HR lead to define the review mechanism, templates and timelines. I will also make sure that our overall plan, goal and mission is being shared and understood by each and every person in the firm.
• Reward and Recognise : Generous rewards and recognition program for people achieving/ over-achieving the set out goals and processess.

Thanks

Harshal Hinger