Joyful Leadership Lab

The Conversation You've Been Putting Off

How to address performance issues before they become crises

Every leader has one. A team member who's been underperforming. A situation that's been quietly brewing. A conversation that keeps getting pushed to next week — because it feels too hard, too risky, or just too uncomfortable to start.

In this session, we'll spend a few minutes exploring why performance conversations are so hard— the fears, the habits, and the organizational dynamics that get in the way. Then we'll move into what most of us actually need: real talk with other leaders who are living it too.

Come ready to share a situation you're navigating (anonymized, of course) and to think out loud with a group that gets it. This isn't a lecture — it's a working session. The wisdom in the room is the point.