Plateaued employees are often loyal employees who are generally nice people and get along well with the team. They are not visibly causing harm to your company. However, are they actually adding value to the growth of your organization? There is a saying that some people with 20 years of experience may have the same experience 20 years in a row. In other words, they are doing the core essentials of the job, but not bringing the value-add you may need to take your company to the next level. Plateaued Employees are not bad apples, yet have you considered the lost opportunity cost of keeping employees that have stagnated?

Most business owners can identify their plateaued employees. Yet doing something about it takes courage. If you are up to the task, first identify ways to fire up your employee with new challenges or provide additional training. Set accountable goals that will help the individual perform to your expectations. If that fails, consider hiring and training a replacement employee.

Take a good look at your team. Here are signs that an employee may be limiting your company’s growth.

Plateaued Employees DON’T:

• Expand their skill set
• Take on new responsibilities
• Bring ideas to the table
• Volunteer to help team members
• Mentor or train others

None of these offenses are grounds for dismissal. Yet, what if you could hire a replacement who could do the following?

Ideal Hires CAN:

• Bring energy to the team
• Offer ideas on process improvement
• Use technology better
• Learn new skills
• Seek more responsibilities

Which profile made you feel energized and hopeful? The Plateaued Employee or the Ideal Hire?

Taking the necessary steps to replace a plateaued employee can be emotionally difficult, but there are ways to mitigate the pain, by:

1) Counseling out respectfully allowing them time to find a job while you search for a replacement.
2) Hiring a replacement discreetly through a confidential search and then terminate the plateaued employee.
3) Cross training others on your team so there is back-up while the new hire is in training.
4) Embracing change!

If you need help in a transitional hiring situation and would like to increase your chances of hiring an employee that can help you advance your company, give us a call at 317-578-1310.