Dig a little deeper on performance issues

With all of the OSHA and accreditation requirements regarding lab safety, we are expected to provide training to employees. However, training is often used as a quick-fix solution to performance problems. Understand that you may not necessarily be able to resolve performance problems with training—often, lack of knowledge is not the culprit.

 

Consider training as an option only after you have addressed all other issues affecting performance. In other words, training should be the last consideration and not the first. For example, if employees are not wearing the required personal protective equipment (PPE), will telling them why they should or training them to wear it make a difference? Maybe the PPE is not readily available, is too hot, or doesn’t fit correctly. More training in this instance is not going to help.

 

The most frequently overlooked approach is simply asking the employee why the desired performance is not being done. Surprisingly, they may just tell you. Next time you encounter performance issues, try digging a little deeper.