Ep 33 - The Breakthrough Conversation: How to Address Underperformance Without Damaging Relationships

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Lead The Room

62 episodes

1 day ago

Tired of the leadership statues quo? Ready to rip up the leadership handbook in search of approaches that will ACTUALLY build the team you know you need? It’s time for a leadership revolution that speaks your language and gets you fired up to lead like never before. We know EXACTLY how to lead differently and we're here to guide you every step off the way. Join Briony and Lyndsey every week as they share tips and advice you can put into practice TODAY and start transforming your team and coaching you from being a great mind to an AMAZING leader.

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Ep 33 - The Breakthrough Conversation: How to Address Underperformance Without Damaging Relationships

Lead The Room

32 minutes 6 seconds

4 months ago

Ep 33 - The Breakthrough Conversation: How to Address Underperformance Without Damaging Relationships

In this episode of Lead the Room, Briony and Lyndsey tackle the most dreaded conversation in leadership - addressing team member underperformance. They reveal how these difficult conversations don't have to destroy relationships but can actually strengthen trust and accelerate team transformation when handled correctly. Through honest personal stories of both failures and successes, they share their proven framework for turning defensive reactions into productive dialogue that drives real performance improvement. They demonstrate how high-performing teams are built through courageous conversations that prioritise both accountability and connection, showing leaders exactly how to have these crucial discussions without damaging the relationships they've worked so hard to build.

Key Takeaways:

Lead with Observation, Not Interpretation: Instead of saying "you don't seem committed," use specific observable behaviors like "I've noticed you've missed three deadlines." This neutral approach invites collaboration rather than triggering defensiveness, creating space for the team member to share their perspective and work together on solutions.

Transform Confrontation into Collaboration: Frame underperformance conversations around a shared third point you both care about - like exceptional client experience or team success. This shifts the dynamic from "you versus me" to "us versus the problem," positioning you as partners working toward the same goal while maintaining accountability.

Clear is Kind - Follow Through Builds High-Performing Teams: Every underperformance conversation must end with specific next steps, genuine offers of support, and scheduled follow-up. This approach demonstrates investment in growth rather than just problem identification, turning awkward one-off conversations into ongoing development opportunities that strengthen team performance.

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Check out our blog for show notes and a full transcript

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