Struggling with underperforming team members while trying to maintain a positive work environment? To help navigate this delicate situation, we’ve turned to insights from CEOs and human resources managers.

We’ll explore six effective strategies HR leaders use to support and guide underperforming employees, as told by these leaders themselves. These strategies foster improvement while preserving a healthy workplace culture.

Shift from ‘why’ to ‘what’

Jason P. Carroll, CEO of Aptive Index:
Too often, I make the mistake of destructive assumptions when people aren’t performing to my expectations. My instinct is to ask why someone isn’t meeting them, which leads to identity-based answers that leave no room for growth. When my COO Kyle would consistently push back on new initiatives, I found myself thinking, “Why is he so resistant to change?” and concluding “Because he’s a roadblock to innovation.”

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