How to Address Underperformance Before It Becomes a Bigger Problem
Most managers know something is off long before they do anything about it. A team member starts missing deadlines. The quality of their work slips. They seem checked out in meetings. And yet, the conversation keeps getting pushed back.
It’s a pattern we see often in small businesses. Underperformance goes unaddressed not because managers don’t care, but because the situation feels awkward, uncertain, or unclear. The problem is that waiting makes it worse.
Here’s a practical approach for handling it early, professionally, and without turning a manageable issue into a drawn-out ordeal.