Strategies for effective confrontation.

Radiology managers who confront staff members in an appropriate manner leave no doubt about their expectations. They demand excellent and consistent performance and do not settle for less. A radiology manager who uses confrontation shows that he or she cares enough about the staff to challenge poor performance. When the manager confronts an employee about performance, he or she sends a message to all employees that mediocre work is not acceptable. The techniques used in confrontation ultimately determine how the confrontation is received and how effective it is. The manager's attitude toward the staff member and ability to verbalize expected outcomes significantly influence how effective confrontation is in motivating staff to improve. Radiology managers who show respect, empathy and support for staff and establish firm expectations find confrontation to be a useful tool.