Sample Curriculum for the Contract and Customized Training Program at Portland State University in Portland Oregon and the Metro area of OR and WA

WHEN PERFORMANCE CREATES CONFLICT

Supervisors' efforts to correct work performance are a common and very specific cause of workplace conflict. This seminar provides supervisors and managers with skills and tools to minimize conflicts between themselves and "their" employees, and between employees around issues of work performance. You learn to set clear, specific performance expectations, maintain clear limits and appropriate boundaries, and respond appropriately when issues arise.

SEMINAR CONTENT:

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

PERFORMANCE AND NON-PERFORMANCE
1. Common performance problems on the job
  1. Absenteeism and tardiness
  2. Family and life problems
  3. Insubordination
  4. Alcohol and drug abuse
  5. Poor work quality
2. Reasons for employee non-performance

WHY ARE MANY PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS AVOIDED
1. Reasons managers avoid performance problems
2. Costs of avoiding poor performers
3. When poor performance creates conflict
4. Dealing with conflict effectively
IMPROVING EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE
1. Communication strategies
2. Providing an opportunity to improve
3. Using consequences and rewards to improve performance
4. The performance evaluation
PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE
1. Five steps of progressive discipline
2. Taking action
3. Termination when necessary
PERCEPTIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT LEAD TO CONFLICT
1. Performance and the multi-generational workforce
2. Performance and the ethnically diverse workforce

HANDOUT MATERIALS: 50-page workbook with additional reading materials

PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR: Former head of Oregon Mediation Association, MSW, 20 years of personnel management and negotiation experience