If an employee is willing to improve, it is time to prepare an effective plan for change. Write down goals and improvements to be achieved. Remember to set these criteria according to SMART (specific, measurable, acceptable, relevant, timed).
6. Measurability is essential
If you have defined criteria realistically corresponding to the change, then another essential step is measurability. Agree with the employee on how they will be reviewed. Nobody works well with someone else breathing down their neck.
7. If there is no change, take action
If the desired changes have not occurred even after a monitoring period, you should note that the possible cause is in your behaviour. The employee may benefit from your kindness and willingness to help but they do not transfer any of this to their performance. In such cases you need to use a different approach and take serious disciplinary action.
8. Is there a positive change? Then give a reward
Never leave the employee "with an axe hanging over their head". If you have managed to rectify the situation, that in itself is adequate reward, assuming you want a team that makes mistakes but can also learn from them and move on.
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