📋 FREE TOOL FOR FIRST-TIME MANAGERS Get The New Leader Advantage — a 2-minute diagnostic that identifies which of the 5 core leadership areas needs your attention: https://growthsignals.co/nla/
Most first-time managers get this wrong with underperforming employees — they either let it ride or fire fast. Neither one diagnoses the problem first. If you're a new manager and you've been avoiding the conversation or already decided someone needs to go, this video is for you.
This performance management framework walks through the decision tree that separates instinct from accuracy: how to give honest, direct feedback without blindsiding anyone, how to distinguish a genuine skill gap from a will problem so you stop wasting time on the wrong fix, and the documentation habit that keeps you protected when nothing improves.
📌 THE FRAMEWORK The real question isn't "coach or fire." It's "did you diagnose this performance problem before you acted?" Most performance conversations fail because new managers skip the diagnostic step entirely — they react to the frustration instead of investigating the cause.
This video gives you three paths after honest feedback:
• Skill gap (they can do the job) → coach them up
• Will problem (they won't do the job) → coach them out
• Job fit (it's not skill or will) → help them transition
🎙️ ABOUT THE MADE LEADER The Made Leader is the channel for new managers who were thrown into leadership with zero training. Only 10% of people are natural leaders. The rest of us have to become one. Hosted by Jen Arnold, this show covers feedback, delegation, team performance, building trust, and everything corporate training left out.
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/
Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader
