In the workplace, everyone strives to excel, but there are always a few 'chicken rib' employees—those who are hard to discard but not worth keeping—who struggle to survive in the corners of the arena, and unfortunately, they end up under your leadership.
These quirky 'chicken ribs' often don't look the part at first. On initial meeting, you can feel their overflowing enthusiasm, and there are always a few strengths that make it hard for you to refuse them. As you work together, they seem harmless, hardworking, and diligent, always attentive and devoted to the department. However, you absolutely cannot assign them any task that requires brainpower! The starting point of a 'chicken rib' is often when a supervisor decides to entrust them with a slightly challenging task, intending to help them improve, but the difficulty level is only half a star. As a result, the 'chicken rib' accurately heads in the opposite direction of the boss's intention. Even if you carefully guide them in the right direction, they will still make foolish mistakes in places you never expected.
So, you repeatedly lower your pride, patiently advise, and hope that one day the 'chicken rib' will transform and have an epiphany. When all becomes futile, you watch them continue to make silly mistakes while showing an innocent face that is hard to bear. At this point, you can only sigh that people's intelligence indeed varies. Of course, 'chicken ribs' always have commendable qualities, such as being hardworking and considerate. Supervisors sometimes feel confused: "It's my fault for not placing them in the right role; I should give them another chance or just let them do tasks within their intelligence range..."
Soon after, the 'chicken rib', lacking self-awareness, suddenly proposes their career plan to the supervisor, saying they want to challenge more difficult work and are not content with their current position. The supervisor listens silently, with a dull pain in their chest. At the end of the story, the 'chicken rib' remains a 'chicken rib', not turning into a chicken leg, breast, or head. They just become faster at typing and copying, and their database of nearby food delivery numbers becomes more detailed. Or, finally, they get fired.
Boss: Prevent, fire, and cure 'chicken ribs'
During the probation period and early stages, understand employees' strengths and weaknesses as soon as possible. If you find someone with symptoms of being a 'chicken rib', you can first provide guidance and treatment. If there is no improvement after several rounds, take action: either have a talk to make them aware of their shortcomings, or directly let them go, to avoid wasting energy and money.
Employees give their boss a 'chicken rib' feeling because their role is low-level and they cannot improve. If the 'chicken rib' is down-to-earth and hardworking, not aiming too high, over time they can become thorough in many basic tasks. The boss can expand the scope and volume of their basic work to create room for promotion and salary increases.
If you cannot improve the 'chicken rib' employee's comprehension and creativity, then consider adjusting the management chain. You can have a deputy supervisor analyze and convey the supervisor's intentions, turning them into step-by-step instructions that even a 'chicken rib' employee can execute, reducing potential deviations.
Let 'chicken rib' employees improve their skills in areas that do not require much thinking. Especially if they lack independent work ability, try to have them work in teams, using collective supervision and help from colleagues to ensure their growth period does not harm the company's interests.
Employees: Cherish your career, stay away from being a 'chicken rib'
Never be afraid to take responsibility, and do not pick easy tasks, because easy tasks might just be 'chicken rib' work. Temporary ease may lead to long-term 'chicken rib' status. Even if you receive 'chicken rib' work, try to approach it with creative thinking.
Regularly reflect on whether your core competitiveness matches your career plan to avoid becoming ambitious but incompetent. Pay attention to evaluations from superiors and colleagues, and regularly self-check whether you are making phased progress.
Keeping up with the times is always the key. Skills that were once 'chicken head' may become 'chicken rib' remnants in a few years. Therefore, you must promptly pursue further study and improvement according to major shifts in the company or department. It is better to proactively work hard than to make your supervisor headache over whether to let you go.
If you are in a 'chicken rib' position, be even more careful, especially before major company changes. Strive to try different positions, even if it means tackling tough tasks. The day you finish the tough task is the day you move away from being a 'chicken rib' and establish your value.
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