Nice vs. Confront

I was reminded this week of how many people steal time or assets from their company without considering their behavior to be wrong.

A year or so ago I had a footnote about Acts 13:10 in my Bible jump off the page at me. It says, "There is a time to be nice and a time to confront. Ask God to show you the the difference and the courage to do what is right."

The economy is clearly trying to stabilize and move forward, but the pressure on many leaders has been intense for a year or more. Although contracts and cash may become easier to secure, leaders are still faced with challenging decisions.

One of these decisions involves clearly defining and enforcing acceptable standards of integrity in your workplace. If you have not already done so, then now is an excellent time to have a candid discussion with employees about their integrity on the job. For those people who do not share your company values, stop being nice and confront unprofessional behaviors in a positive yet firm manner.

Give them an opportunity to improve by discussing your concerns verbally and in writing, including your specific expectations for their behavior. Have them sign the document confirming they have been notified of your concerns and if they do not improve then it could result in discipline up to the loss of their job. Work with them in an encouraging manner for a period of 30-90 days.

If they cannot improve, then maybe it's time to give them a negative disruption in their life: Fire them.

Sorry to be the bad guy. I personally avoid confrontation, however there is a time to be nice and a time to confront. The economy is starting to turn and you cannot afford to lose business due to unacceptable behavior by your employees.