Let the Poor Performers Go?

Source: Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders

Some observations by Rita Keller:

Many firms have a policy for dealing with the bottom 20 percent of their client base. What about the lowest performing employees?

Partners should determine if the performance evaluation system is a good one. If it is not, that is something that should be addressed.

If you have correctly identified lowest 20 percent of all you people in terms of performance (and this should include partners too), that doesn't mean you should fire them. But there must be program to help them improve their performance.

If partners perform poorly, and the firm allows it, employees will know this, and their motivation to perform well will suffer.

In many CPA firms, partners do manager work and managers do the work of seniors. This can negatively affect the performance of those below them, who may not have enough work or the right kind of work to do.

If you want to know what management and resulting performance problems exist, survey the people in the firm. They will let you know.

For the complete article, read "The Bottom 20 Percent."

From Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders, the newsletter of Rita Keller, December 2012, www.ritakeller.com.