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Self-Assessment: Employee Discipline—Do You Get it Right?

How you handle disciplinary matters has a significant impact on employee attitude, motivation and productivity. This self-assessment, from Answers for Managers, by Adam Radzik and Sharon Emek (AMACOM Books), will help you determine if you have established and maintained clear behavior and performance guidelines for your staff.

Rate yourself by answering the questions as you believe your employees would answer them. Then, ask your employees to complete the survey—anonymously—so that you can compare your perceptions with theirs.

Scoring Procedure:
Circle the number that applies to each item, based on the following scale:
1 = never
2 = sometimes
3 = half of the time
4 = most of the time
5 = always

1) Clearly explains established company rules and guidelines 1 2 3 4 5
2. Makes job expectations clear
3. Establishes clear performance standards from the outset
4. Makes certain that employees have a clear understanding of the consequences for inappropriate behavior
5. Gives employees frequent feedback on work behaviors
6. Explains to employees that salary increases depend on work behaviors
7. Takes action when an employee breaks a rule
8. Does not act in anger
9. Treats each case individually
10. Informs the employee of the charges against him
11. Does not assume the offender is guilty before obtaining all of the evidence
12. Gives the employee an impartial review of the action
13. Gives the employee an opportunity to reply to the charges
14. Is considerate of the offender’s feelings
15. Is consistent in dealing with employees
16. Is not overly harsh in dealing with employees
17. Is not overly permissive in dealing with employees
18. Criticizes the offender in private, as opposed to in public
19. Assists the employee in finding ways to change the inappropriate behavior
20. Keeps careful records of each significant infraction

    Your Score

Interpreting Your Score
Add up the scores and divide the total by 20 to determine how well you discipline employees:

1.0 – 1.5 very poor
1.6 – 2.5 poor
2.5 – 3.5 fair
3.6 – 4.5 good
4.6 – 5.0 excellent

You can improve your managerial skills by taking these AMA seminars:
Improving Your Managerial Effectiveness, #2508
Confronting the Tough Stuff: Turning Managerial Challenges into Positive Results, #2140
Click here for a complete listing of AMA seminars on Management & Supervisory Skills
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