Address Problems Early

Claude Oppenheim, Ph.D., President
Oppenheim Education and Management Consulting

Accountants know that the key to minimizing bad debts is to deal quickly with unpaid accounts.  The customer needs to be contacted and the problem addressed. 

The same principle applies equally to other problems.  If employee performance is unsatisfactory, the manager should sit down with the employee as soon as the problem is evident and make clear what changes are required.  Good teachers know that if students misbehave, or fall behind in their work, they should be called to account immediately. 

When graffiti appears, it should be cleaned up right away, or if property is damaged in other ways, it should be repaired as soon as possible. 

Immediate responses to problems show that they will not be allowed to continue. 

Left unaddressed, the impression is given that they don’t matter, and they likely will get worse.  Those who are not doing what they should, learn that they can continue with impunity.  And those who are performing well become demoralized when they see that others don’t, and their performance too will likely slip. 

Dealing with employee or student problems should not wait until formal evaluations.  They need to be addressed early and clearly.  Problems are often not addressed because many managers, teachers and administrators, like most other people, prefer to avoid conflict.  They rationalize that the negative response to being required to change will outweigh the benefits.  The reality is, however, that if done tactfully but firmly, most people will respond positively, to the great good of the organization and all concerned. 

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