Are They Underperforming… or Just in the Wrong Seat?
We’ve been having more conversations lately around employee performance and one pattern continues to show up: Sometimes it’s not the person. It’s the seat.
It’s easy to assume someone isn’t the right fit when performance dips. But, in many cases, you may have a strong, capable employee whose role simply doesn’t align with how they’re wired to succeed.
A few things we encourage leaders to look at:
Is it truly a performance issue - or is it a misalignment? Someone can be a great employee and still struggle if their role doesn’t match their strengths.
Where are they naturally strong? Pay attention to the work that energizes them vs. drains them. That’s often where the answer lies.
Is the role structured for success? Sometimes it’s not just the person; it’s the expectations, resources, or environment around the role.
What would happen if they were repositioned? When the right person is placed in the right seat, engagement improves, teams function better, and performance tends to follow.
Great leadership isn’t just about managing tasks; it’s about understanding people well enough to place them where they can do their best work.
What this means for your team
Before jumping to replacement or discipline, it may be worth asking:
Do I have the wrong person… or the right person in the wrong role?
How we can help
This is something we work through with clients often. If you’re navigating a situation like this, we can support you by:
Facilitating Crucial Conversations
Using personality and behavioral assessments to better understand strengths
Evaluating roles and responsibilities for better alignment
Helping you structure your team in a way that plays to each person’s strengths
If you want to talk through a specific situation or explore what this could look like for your team, we’re always here as a resource! Reach out to Brandi today to get started.
