Module 5 Workplace Challenge

THE REPEATED PROBLEM

Kemi supervises a small office team.

One employee, Jude, has missed four client follow-up deadlines in six weeks.

After the first missed deadline, Kemi reminded him verbally.

After the second, she gave specific feedback:

“Client follow-ups must be completed within 24 hours. If you cannot complete one, tell me before the deadline.”

After the third, Jude explained that his workload was too high.

Kemi reviewed his workload and reassigned two routine tasks.

They agreed to review performance in two weeks.

During the review period, Jude misses another follow-up deadline and does not notify Kemi.

When asked, he says:

“I forgot.”

Consider:

1. Is this now a pattern? 2. Has the standard been made clear? 3. Did Kemi investigate a possible workload issue? 4. Was support provided? 5. What should Kemi document? 6. Is another informal reminder enough? 7. What might the next appropriate step be?

GUIDED RESPONSE

This is now a repeated issue.

Kemi has:

• clarified the standard
• asked what was contributing to the problem
• adjusted workload
• set an improvement expectation
• scheduled follow-up

Jude still missed another deadline without communicating.

Kemi should document the continued pattern and move to the next appropriate accountability step under the organization’s process.

She should not:

• insult Jude
• publicly embarrass him
• invent a punishment
• pretend the problem is starting from the beginning again