Posts tagged performance
Done > Perfect?
  • “I delegated, the work was on track to come back late - so I did not wait. I did it myself on time. It’s what the client expects.

  • “The assignment landed on my desk with a few small errors and an omission. I gave it a polish before it went to the CEO.”

  • “This kind of thing keeps happening - rushed, sloppy work… So I told the employee how I’d handle it if I were in their shoes.”

Ostensibly, this is great. Each of these leaders wants the work to be done well. They are accountable. They are invested. So they do the work well or they tell the employee how to do it well.

The problem? These are short-term fixes - and they don’t usually address the underlying issue.


Read on, for a better approach.

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The Perception Gap

Different points of view and perceptions are often a force for good. Diverse approaches beget innovations and positive change. But when perceptions diverge over the fundamentals, things can get challenging. Fundamentals like business goals, performance, and issues of fairness.

Perhaps the most pernicious perception-at-work challenge is in the realm of performance. Employees who aren’t performing well often think they’re doing better than they are. After interventions by managers they say things like “But I did xyz…” - even when they’ve been asked to focus instead on abc.

Ellie Hearne on perception and performance and how to address the gaps.

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"Leader's Intent": Your New Guiding Principle

You’re a leader. You’re charged with making decisions that impact the business, the organization, and your team. You’re accountable. Your role is key to the success of your organization.

So what happens when you’re not around?

Pencil or Ink founder Ellie Hearne on the tool that helps teams succeed and helps leaders take a step back - whether they’re present or absent.

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