265: How to deal with underperformance

from Happier At Work: Leadership, Culture, Performance

Are you struggling to manage underperformance on your team?In this solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, host Aoife O'Brien dives into the challenging topic of dealing with underperformers in the workplace. Drawing on her experiences as a career and culture strategist, Aoife unpacks the reasons why underperformance happens, how it impacts you as a leader or teammate, and the practical steps you can take to address it compassionately and effectively. Aoife also tackles common issues, such as unclear expectations and feedback aversion, and emphasises the importance of courageous conversations and setting healthy boundaries.In This Episode, You’ll Discover:Common reasons why underperformance occurs, from blind spots and lack of clarity to feedback aversion and power dynamics.The value of difficult conversations in driving individual and team growth.Tips for documenting specific examples to support constructive feedback and performance discussions.When and how to escalate issues and set boundaries to protect your own workload and well-being.Related Topics Covered:Purpose at Work, Employee Wellbeing, Boundaries at Work Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:Website LinkedIn YouTube Related Episodes You’ll Love:Episode 235: Empowering your Career and Overcoming Hurdles with Aoife O’BrienEpisode 240: Meaningful Work through Simplification with Lisa BodellEpisode 242: Transforming Mental Health Conversations at Work with Melissa DomanAbout Happier at Work®Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ Mentioned in this episode:Thriving Talent bookBook

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This episode was published on July 18, 2025.

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