I don't think anybody likes having hard conversations with people who aren't cutting it. But dealing with underperforming individuals is one of the most important things leaders do. The key is catching it and addressing it early, before it gets out of hand. Some leaders will avoid that conversation and hope it'll fix itself, and it rarely ends well.
I've put people on Action Plans, and in a lot of cases, the individual has corrected their behavior, kept their job and thrived. As a leader, that's incredibly rewarding.
....I've also had to show a few to the door. But when I did it, it was with a clear conscience that I did everything within reason to try to help them first.
View attachment 936031