11/20/2025

The Hidden Reasons behind Underperformance

Underperformance is both a performance issue and a leadership one

Underperformance usually shows up in the guise of missed deadlines, low-quality work or a bad attitude. Sometimes, this gets spotted but not always, by a leader who then has to make a choice: when and how to tackle the underperformance.

However, the problem can be exacerbated by acting too quickly: There is often a fierce desire within leaders to jump to action. They want to stop "the badness," stop the ripples and solve the situation as quickly as possible. However, often, this means that they make assumptions about what is causing the underperformance and how to solve it without taking a little time to explore the real reasons behind the poor performance.

The problem can also be exacerbated by acting too slowly: underperformance has a nasty habit of rippling out. Whether it creates a sense among colleagues that this low standard is acceptable, or whether it means that team members get annoyed that this individual is "getting away with it" (and therefore reduce their own efforts to create a sense of "parity"), it all ends in the same place: more underperformance and a potential impact on the workplace culture.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.