Underperforming Staff - Effect and Solution

Posted by Edmund & Evans on 27th September 2021 -

If you own an estate agency, you probably know that your employees are the most vital assets of your business. In fact, the success of your agency depends heavily on your staff’s ability and performance.

When employee performance is not up to the mark, the overall revenue will fall and your brand reputation may suffer. Hence, it’s imperative that you handle your underperforming staff in a constructive and supportive manner in order to build mutual trust and boost your business at the same time.

Impact on Your Business

Poor staff performance can result in various setbacks for your estate agency. Here are the three main ways your business can be affected by underperforming staff members:

Low Staff Morale

Low morale can be contagious. Even if one or two staff members express their dissatisfaction with work, it can have a domino effect. Possible consequences include disagreements among employees, lack of support among employees, and disobedience to the manager.

Low Productivity

If a staff member is unhappy, their motivation and productivity levels are likely to fall. Since real estate agencies require their staff to attract clients and finalize property deals, underperforming employees will fail to have productive interactions with clients as well as other staff members.

High Turnover

Some underperforming employees can demotivate hard workers in the organization. When efficient employees notice less productive employees escaping notice, they may lose interest in their work. This may eventually cause them to switch their jobs.

How to Handle Underperforming Staff Members

In order to maintain a productive work environment and retain business profitability, it is imperative to address the issue of underperforming staff members at your earliest. Here are the steps you can take:

1. Address the Specific Issue

Arrange a one-on-one meeting with each of your underperforming staff members. Discuss the issues you have with them honestly and directly. If the issue is target-related, keep documentation ready to present proof of their poor performance.

2. Give the Right Training

Talk to your employees about the goals that are realistically achievable. Communicate your expectations of performance in a clear manner. Identify the areas they need improvement in and develop a training plan to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills.

3. Understand Employee Motivation

It is important to look at the situation from the perspective of your employees to understand how to motivate them. Get to know the reason behind their poor performance and find out their career goals. Make sure you privately and publicly acknowledge their achievements so that they remain driven. Real estate is a fast-growing sector, with the global market share predicted to climb to over six billion by 2026. Underperforming employees in real estate agencies can considerably affect profits. Therefore, make sure you maintain open communication with your staff members and provide them with proper training to resolve their issues.