MATURE WORKERS

MATURE WORKERS

Best…or Worst?

Mature workers can be some of our finest: they are often the most knowledgeable, experienced workers we have. They often have a strong work ethic and a high level of commitment. They may have been in several positions or departments in the organization, so they have breadth of perspective.

But perhaps you have also seen the opposite with some older workers. Do you have an older worker who has become disengaged in his or her job? This person may have been with the organization for so long that everything seems automatic, and the future is taken for granted. They may appear to be biding time until they can retire (or win the lottery!), offering you just enough performance to keep their jobs. It would not, generally, be good for employee morale if you took a heavy-handed approach and fired someone like that. They have usually given good service to the organization in the past and are often well-liked. We know they are capable of so much more.

Re-engaging a Mature Worker

You may have one or more of these people working for you. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone with that much potential fully engaged on your team? Rather than assuming you simply have to accept their current level of performance or otherwise ignore them, take it on as a personal challenge that you will find a way to re-energize this individual. Plan to take at least three months to positively focus on improving their performance. What you want to do is increase their level of pride and commitment, and that takes a subtle approach. Try the following ideas.

1. Consider why they may be performing marginally. Maybe they have been passed over for a promotion in the past, for good reason or not. You can’t do anything to correct that situation, but it may help if you have more understanding of what has brought them to their current level of performance. You may be much younger than they are, and there could be some resentment or envy on their part of you as their manager. They’ve seen many others come and go, and they are not impressed with you or anyone else, for that matter.

If lack of promotion is not the problem, perhaps it’s lack of recognition or acknowledgement in the past from some of their bosses. You can do something about that, and you should. Keep reading…

Be Here …..More to Come