In many business settings, especially small businesses, every single person on the team matters. There is not one person without whom the business could succeed. This type of dependence comes from hiring the right people - the lynch pins - to bring your business successfully into the future.

Unfortunately there are instances when the people you hire in your business aren’t doing their best. And just like the saying goes, a business is only as strong as its weakest link. They may not be doing their best for a multitude of reasons, and before it can affect your business, try to figure out why there is a downturn in their efficiency and productivity.

Here are a few reasons why a team member may not be performing at the high standards you need in your business.

1. Unsure of the direction of their tasks
This happens when a new person joins the team and isn’t given proper explanation of the company, the objective of the projects, the preferred way to do tasks, or all of the above.
Fix: Don’t worry, there are ways to fix this issue relatively quickly. Schedule a brief on the company, have the team member join in on strategic planning meetings or train them on the right processes in the business. And for future new hires, create and follow a process for training so everyone can be on the same page in the business as soon as possible.

2. Not utilizing the right business productivity tools
Some people just don’t know how to use tools to increase their business productivity. And some businesses don’t know to give their team the right tools. This can cause a decrease in efficiency, an increase in missed information and general disorganization of communications and tasks.
Fix: Make sure that along with email, a new computer and phone, you are also giving your team access to the right tools to be successful, including team collaboration systems and task management software. These tools will help organize their work and communication, and make sure they are as productive as they can be.

3. Home issues
As much as we try, sometimes personal and home issues can affect our work. This holds true for anyone, so if you are seeing fluctuations in attitude, productivity and quality of work from one of your team members, there may be external factors at work.
Fix: Sit down with that team member and talk to them to figure out what’s going on. If they need a bit of extra space, allow them an afternoon off to relax and fix whatever they need to fix. Being open and understanding in situations like this not only can help your team work on their own lives, but builds credibility for you as a great manager and will make them want to come back to work for you every day.

4. Not the right person for the job
Sometimes it just happens that you think you chose the right person for the job, or the job changed, and the person just isn’t fulfilling their part in the business any longer.
Fix: In times like this, you will probably have to let that team member go. You need to make sure the people in your business will be the best people to bring your business forward. You could always find another open position for which their skillset would excel, but make sure you’re doing that because you believe they’ll be better in that position, not because you just don’t want to be the boss who lets people go. Always do what is best for your business.

When you need to rely on the maximum utilization of everyone on your team, it’s important to find the right people, give them the right training and tools, and offer continuous support throughout their time at your company. When you do this, your team will excel, and your business will see greater success.