Motivate Employees Set in their Ways

Motivate Employees Set in Their Ways

Employees who are slow to react can be frustrating, especially in environments where it's imperative to respond and adapt to change quickly. Everything needs to happen quickly in the branches, isn’t it so…? However, don't assume these slow pokes are trying to undermine progress or resist change. They may have very good reasons for their response times. Next time you're waiting on someone's input, go talk to him/her. Explain that you are all under pressure and that you value knowing his response. Ask that he get back to you quickly — within a day or so. He may have a thoughtful rationale for proceeding cautiously, or when he realizes that the matter is in his hands, he may speed things up. This is what management is about.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from the "How do you motivate older reports who are set in their ways?" board on the "Ask the Expert: Peter Cappelli" board of the HBR Answer Exchange brought to you and further adapted by Edwin van Wyk via Harvard Business Review.