095: Hey Leader! They're Not Overwhelmed - They're Underperforming (1 of 6)

Playing In The Sandbox

Welcome to the start of our SIX PART SERIES, "Communication Lies Leaders Believe." In this episode, Tammy J. Bond tackles a common and costly workplace myth: the idea that an employee who says they're "overwhelmed" simply needs more support. Tammy reveals: when a direct report can't articulate their workload, they're not overwhelmed—they're underperforming and avoiding accountability.

Tammy provides a practical, no-nonsense strategy to get to the root of the problem. She introduces the "Squeeze Technique," a method to transform excuses into ownership. It's about providing the clarity, structure, and accountability people need to succeed. Tammy challenges leaders to stop avoiding tough conversations and start leading with clear expectations, because overwhelmed does not equal accountability.

Key Takeaways for Leaders

• Overwhelmed is the New Excuse: Recognize that "overwhelmed" is often used as a blanket statement to avoid accountability. It's up to you to dig deeper.

• The Squeeze Technique: Apply this strategy to press for specifics when an employee claims to be overwhelmed. Ask for details on their daily tasks, resources, and time management.

• Stop Babysitting: Your job isn't to put on a magic cape and solve their problems. It's to provide the clarity, tools, and accountability for them to solve it themselves.

• Avoidance vs. Support: Don't confuse avoiding a hard conversation with "keeping the peace." Your avoidance is actually enabling learned helplessness and resentment.

• Victim Mindset: The victim narrative ("I can't do it all") must be transformed into a framework of personal ownership and responsibility.

• The Power of Documentation: Use frequent, short meetings and follow-up emails to document expectations and deliverables. This serves as a foundation for accountability or necessary escalation.

• Ownership through Reflection: Flip an employee's excuses by asking them to reflect on their role in the situation, turning their focus from external factors to internal responsibility.

In This Episode, You'll Learn

• How to identify when an employee is underperforming versus truly overwhelmed.

• The "Squeeze Technique" to get specifics and expose lack of follow-through.

• Why avoiding difficult conversations about performance leads to resentment and drama.

• Practical steps for setting clear expectations and daily check-ins to foster accountability.

• How to use documentation to support your leadership decisions and escalation processes.

Resources

• Listen to the full six-part series: "Communication Lies Leaders Believe." bondgroupenterprises.com/podcast

• Join the waitlist for our next Leadership Sandbox Mastermind groups, starting in September, to get the support you need to lead with bold clarity and stop operating on lies. Sign up today: leadershipsandbox.com/groups