Which type of team member do you find to be the most challenging to lead?

Our reader poll today asks: Which type of team member do you find to be the most challenging to lead?

• Someone with the skill but not the will to do the work 82.83%
• Someone with the will but not the skill to do the work 17.17%

Motivating is harder than training. The vast majority of respondents (83%) are more challenged by a team member who can do the work but simply chooses not to versus the person who wants to but doesn’t have the ability. The key to getting these skilled but unmotivated associates to perform is engaging them. Have the honest conversation about how their performance is not meeting expectations, especially since you believe they’re fully capable of doing the work. Then ask why this is happening. Are their obstacles to doing the work? Do they not have the resources or authority they need? Are their interpersonal conflicts that are causing difficulty? Is something happening outside of work that’s distracting them? Are they not excited or challenged by the work? Do they feel unappreciated or not appropriately compensated? Instead of guessing why they’re not performing, go right to the source. Create a candid environment where they can share and you can really listen. Once you understand the barriers or factors that cause the lack of motivation, you can take the appropriate action.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.