[cangelle]

I lead a team of three. However, one of my employees doesn’t fit in terms of value alignment and performance. However, we’re such a small team that parting ways would have negative consequences when it comes to meeting deadlines with key clients. What is your advice in this particular situation?

[Jon Hutson]

When you’re a small firm, it is especially challenging when one of your team members isn’t keeping up, but perhaps focusing on what they are good at vs. what they are not would help you and the teammate consider explore alternative roles for the person. Like many sports coaches, I like to build our offensive around our team’s skills vs. slotting players in positions that may not maximize their talents. Unless someone has a behavioral issue they are struggling with like a couple of the instances Cap outlined in his book, I’d say everyone has skills and talents worth strengthening and channeling around their highest and best use.

[cangelle]

Thank you @Jon. I really appreciate your feedback pertaining to hiring for talent/skills instead of roles. In this particular case, my biggest problem is a lack of alignment around one of our company’s core values. Would you have any pieces of advice regarding this particular aspect?

[Jon Hutson]

Core Values can often be merely nebulous words on a wall. It’s important that you define the behaviors that you and your team expect that animate the Core Value. Invite your team to collaborate with you to help better understand each Core Value – and together develop the behaviors that everyone agrees to be representative of that Core Value.

[Matthew13]

I believe if this can’t be corrected, it harms both your company and your employee. While in the short run, there may be some trouble with meeting deadlines, it seems like there might be long-term damage to both your culture and brand if this alignment cannot be corrected. I’m curious if conversations have already happened with the employee, or if this is more of initial thoughts around the problem.

Best,
Matthew

[cangelle]

Thank you both for your input. It sounds like I need to be more communicative about what pragmatic behaviors are linked to our core values. While it won’t be feasible to be exhaustive, I certainly appreciate the advice to illustrate these values in action.

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