An HR Perspective: A Series on Management in Libraries -- Are There Weeds in Your Garden? Can They Be Cultivated or Should They be Plucked?

Abstract

Comparing your organization to a garden may seem ludicrous but let’s take a closer look at your “garden.” When an organization is truly successful, every employee is a high performing individual. Unfortunately, most organizations have a few “weeds” and what happens when these are left unattended? The weeds in this instance aren’t the problem employees. Those you can handle through discipline procedures or termination. The weeds here blend in somewhat and aren’t as easily identified. They are the marginal or mediocre employees. By definition, marginal means “on the edge.” In organizational terms, marginal employees are those employees who live on the edge of “being productive." They exist because the organization has allowed them to do so.