Let’s face it, when you are in charge of a group, there will always be that one person who is lagging a bit behind. Having one person who is a bit behind can set off the entire group dynamic. How do you fix it? How do you bring that person up to pace?
First, you need to set up a talk with that person. Bring up what he/she is doing right; what he/she is good at. You want the person to feel like you are helping him/her and are interested in their improvement, not just being critical. After, telling the person what he/she is good at, then tell him/her what he/she need to improve on.
Next, set up a plan on how he/she can improve. Set up deadlines on when duties should be made, and track the member to keep him/her accountable. Provide suggestions to help the member become or effective and proactive. Sometimes a little encouragement goes a long way. Show that member that their work and his/her efforts are valuable and has a large effect on the outcome of the entire group
Finally, implement it. Track the member’s progress and keep them accountable to the task, and never fail to remind the member that the work he/she is doing is important and has an effect on other people. In time, that lagging member will rise to be your star player.
Min Shan Lin attends USC and is a member of the Braathe Enterprises Virtual Internship Program
