Description

We've all been the referee at some point — spotting the miss, calling the foul, expecting the correction to land just because we named it. If you've ever caught yourself half-composing a performance conversation in your head before it even starts, already a little frustrated, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The referee vs. the GPS. Two completely different ways of responding when someone misses the mark — one that penalizes, and one that recalculates and finds the next right route together.
• The four places a gap in understanding can live. When someone isn't doing what you need them to do, the reason usually isn't a lack of effort. It's more often a:
  • Clarity gap — nobody's ever defined what "good" actually looks like here
  • Knowledge gap — they know what good looks like, but they're missing a piece of information
  • Skill gap — they have the clarity and the knowledge, but haven't had the reps
  • Confidence gap — they have all three, but aren't sure they're allowed to make a mistake
• The Fix: Get curious. Ask a question. Explore the territory. Name the pattern you've noticed, without any accusation, and open up a new path to better performance.

Why this is harder than it sounds. By the time we are managing performance, we might already be frustrated. Check your own state before the conversation — are you actually calm and curious, or bracing for impact? — This matters every bit as much as anything you say.

This week's challenge

Pick one person and one behavior that's been bugging you — get curious and make an offer: "Can we talk about this pattern?" Then ask the follow-up question — "When this happens, what happens next for you?" — and let them actually answer.

This gives you real information before you act on an assumption and it helps you spend your energy on the right path forward. One honest answer this week can save you a handful of frustrating conversations later.

Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Becky Kennedy, in conversation with Lewis Howes on The School of Greatness 
• Samantha Baltadonis, The Quantum Blueprint 
• Join Claire on the Masterclass here-  clairelaughlin.com/mytoppriorities.

 Ready to go deeper?

If you want to build real clarity, trust, and cohesion into how your team operates, reach out for a free consultation. Visit clairelaughlin.com and click "Schedule a Consult" https://calendly.com/clairelaughlin/30min at the top of the page.

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Until next time, lead the way!