Managing Underperformance
From How to Lead with Kate Waterfall Hill by Kate Waterfall Hill
January 15, 2026 · 14 min · Episode 60
About this episode
Kate Waterfall Hill discusses strategies for managing underperformance in leadership roles.
In this episode of 'How to Lead,' leadership coach Kate dives into managing underperformance, a challenge that affects all leaders. Kate shares practical tools and strategies to address underperformance in a structured, calm, and human way. Learn how to handle different types of employee responses and the importance of consistency in follow-up. The episode concludes with self-reflection questions to help leaders improve their approach to managing underperformance. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction to Managing Under Performance 02:05 Common Mistakes in Handling Under Performance 03:20 Understanding the Root Causes of Under Performance 05:26 Effective Conversations for Managing Under Performance 07:09 The LECA Framework for Performance Conversations 08:53 Handling Different Types of Responses 10:26 When to Escalate: Reset Conversations and Formal Processes 12:10 Consistency and Self-Reflection in Leadership 13:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Useful links: The Digital Academy Online Course Free Resources and more information on Kate's coaching programmes Buy the "How to Lead" book Connect with Kate on LinkedIn Follow Kate on TikTok Contact Kate
People in this episode
Host: Kate Waterfall Hill
Topics covered
- managing underperformance
- leadership
- employee responses
- performance conversations
- self-reflection
Keywords
- underperformance
- leadership coach
- performance management
- employee engagement
- LECA Framework
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