Title:Managing the Poor Performer
Author: Arthur Proud
Publisher: Fenman
Year: 2001
Format: A4 ringbinder
Price: £195
ISBN: 1 903310 06 7
This latest resource from Fenman is formatted in two parts. The first includes 10 activities concerning situations and processes in which the poor performer is the villain of the piece. The author defines 'poor performers' in situations when they are newcomers; slightly below-average employees; having a sudden fall in performance; no improvement reviews; bolshie employees; aggressive; not meeting objectives; apathetic employees; emotional; the know-all. These activities are divided into role-play coaching events, group problem-solving events, discussion of case studies, review planning and so on. Each activity follows the pattern of an introduction and purpose, applications, what happens, time required (ranging from 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes), materials and resources, in preparation and how to do it, and a summary. Handouts and OHP masters are also provided. The mixture of the different approaches is refreshing and useful, enabling the activities to be used with other collections, usually role plays.
Part 2 is concerned with the skills necessary in dealing with the poor performer and consists of 8 practical activities designed to help managers to draw on their past experiences and to explore and discover methods and techniques to this end. The activities include short trainer inputs, discussions of problems, checklist considerations and the use of relevant models to consider subjects such as effective listening, hiding one's own opinion, principles of behaviour, setting improvement targets, giving feedback on poor performance, using meeting planners and written reports, and consideration of personal approaches. This set of general method activities requires times ranging from 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.
I found this a useful collection of activities on the subject, different to many collections in its approach, and with a very usable range of subjects. The activities are clear, concise yet very comprehensive in their description and information. Well recommended.
Leslie Rae, February 2100
Clearly defined learning objectives ****
Variety and approach *****
Trainer guidance *****
Handouts and overheads ****
Overall value *****
