7 STEPS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE UNDERPERFORMING AT WORK

It’s completely normal to have times when you underperform at work. Whether there’s something specific in your life that’s distracting you or you’re just having an off week or month, being an underperformer isn’t fun.

When you fail to meet expectations, it can be discouraging and embarrassing. However, it is possible to turn things around with the right support.

To improve your performance, it’s a good idea to try and address the problem as quickly as possible. So, here are 7 steps to take if you start underperforming at work:

1. Identify the reasons for underperforming

It could be that you’re just going through a bad patch. But, it’s important to consider that there could also be root causes or issues in the workplace that affect your ability to do your job.

For example, do you have the right tools, resources, and training to do your job role? Are there other issues at work like bullying or a toxic workplace culture? Or are there issues in your personal life that are causing stress and affecting your performance?

It’s essential that, if there are other reasons for underperforming, you discuss these with your employer so they can help find a solution that works for you.

2. Talk to your boss

Become proactive and schedule a meeting with your boss. Taking responsibility for your mistakes shows that you want to resolve the issue.

How to talk to your boss when you’re underperforming?

First, plan what you want to say and choose an appropriate time to talk, preferably when both you and your boss have some privacy and can focus without interruptions. Approach the conversation with a positive and solution-oriented mindset. Then, let your boss know that you’re aware of your underperformance and are committed to improving. Ask his opinion on how to do it. If you need additional training or resources, ask for it. Regularly update your boss on your progress. Maintain open communication with your boss and request feedback periodically to ensure you’re on the right track.

3. Have realistic, manageable goals

When you’re trying to improve productivity and performance, it’s tempting to just take on more work or work faster. But, being unrealistic can also lead to poor performance, as it means you can become overwhelmed and experience burnout.

Be realistic about what you can accomplish and discuss your targets with your boss. Then, you can agree on an action plan to make sure you meet your goals and deadlines.

This plan should be manageable for you, and to ensure you meet your targets, we recommend breaking projects down into manageable chunks and simple to-do lists that you can complete.

Close up of thoughtful young business woman

4. Have a daily schedule to stay productive

If you’re struggling to meet deadlines and get all your work finished, having a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule can help to keep you on track, especially if you have a heavy workload.

Create a schedule that includes all your tasks, meetings, phone calls, and other items on your to-do list. This can help you stay productive throughout the day.

5. Work on your time management skills

Another reason for poor performance can be that you need to improve your time management skills. You can sharpen these skills by planning things in advance. If you have a task that’s due in several weeks, you can make sure it gets completed by planning out your time beforehand.

Instead of spending hours at the last minute catching up on the work, try and spend small amounts of highly focused work each day or week to stay on top of things.

6. Focus on one task at a time

A lot of people try to multitask, especially if they’re super busy, as they feel like it’s making them more efficient. However, it can actually take a lot longer to complete tasks this way.

If you’re trying to write reports, reply to emails, and answer phone calls all at the same time, chances are you’re not getting as much done as you could be. Instead of trying to juggle everything, picking one task at a time and fully focusing on it can boost your productivity.

Start by making daily to-do lists that prioritize the most important tasks first. By finishing these tasks first, you make sure the most important items on your list are completed.

It also makes it much easier to make progress through your list, as it gives you a surge of motivation, and even if you have a long to-do list, it will seem a bit more manageable.

7. Remove any distractions

Try and remove as many distractions as you can so you can stick to your schedule. For instance, if you’re doing highly focused work, During this time, put your phone on silent, turn off email alerts, and shut your office door (if you have one).

This can help you to focus on the tasks you need to complete without being interrupted. You’ll be surprised how much you accomplish in a short time by doing this.