Say THIS Before Your Company’s Underperformer Leaves for the Weekend
- Ross Paterson
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
One of our clients, the founder of a digital marketing agency, had a developer who had been with him since the startup phase. The developer loved working directly with the founder on projects but, as the business grew, opportunities for 1-1 time became rare. The developer’s attitude and motivation quickly tanked.
With our coaching, the founder asked him what was going on, and the teammate admitted missing the days when they worked side-by-side. Since this old business model didn’t make sense for the scaling agency, the developer decided he was better suited in a boutique team environment and left. And he thanked the founder for his clarity.
Having the courage to coach teammates through underperformance is the mark of a real leader. Sometimes, the kindest and most effective move a leader can make is to give someone permission to leave. We call this Cracking Open the Door.
After re-establishing your expectations with an underperformer, let them know:
This delivery style removes pressure and gives them space to honestly consider their own bandwidth / commitment. This is how you bypass excuses and get authentic answers.
Next week, we’ll cover what happens on Monday, when your teammate chooses to stay (Featuring the 90-Day Turnaround Plan)!
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