Set clear expectations, give feedback early and specifically, and deal with poor performance directly rather than letting the team carry it.
Part 01
The lesson
Feedback works when it is timely, private, behavioural and paired with what to do instead. Public praise, private correction, no exceptions.
Part 02
In practice
'The report missed two of the figures we agreed. Let's add a check step before it goes out' beats 'you need to be more careful'.
Reflection
Questions to sit with
- 01If nothing changed in your habits for five years, where would you end up?
- 02What decision are you currently avoiding, and what is the avoidance costing?
- 03Do the people you lead know exactly what you expect of them?
Put it into practice
Action points
- 01Write a one-page statement of the direction you are committing to for the next six months, with three concrete milestones.
- 02Do a weekly review for four weeks: what I owned, what I avoided, what I decide next week.