Continuing the theme of 5 things remarkable bosses do, here is number 3:
Remarkable bosses rescue their worst employee.
Who is your worst employee? No, not all of them, choose only one.
Why do you consider this person to be the worst? What do his/her peers grumble about? How is he/she viewed by the team? Find one thing he/she does that is positive. If you have to, look at the minimum standard that is achieved. This may look like a dead-end endeavor, but you can turn someone seen as a failure into an avid employee. You will reap the benefits of elevating your stature as a leader as well. Be honest with the employee about what you observe the struggle to be. Ask what you can do together to fix it. Be sure that the commitment comes from him/her before you offer support. Get a commitment for one small change to happen in a short time-frame. Express confidence in their ability to change. Tell him/her that you will be there every step of the way. Keep your standards high and step up your coaching support.
Sometimes we are too busy telling people what we want changed and how they should do it to see them become overwhelmed by it. They put on their "I can do it" face and fail miserably. Become a curious leader ready to ask, not tell, support small steps to see success. Once you both see the small wins, see what it took, guide the person to apply that learning to a new challenge. Keep building on those small wins and you'll start to see momentum that was absent before.
The challenge this week is not to focus on your super stars, but on your worst performer.
You will make a lasting difference.