One of our leadership team members is a great culture fit and tries incredibly hard, but they consistently fail to hit their Rocks and keep falling short on their Scorecard metrics. How do we determine if they simply lack the capacity for the seat?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When a leader aligns perfectly with your Core Values but struggles to perform, it is easy to let the situation drag on. However, keeping a person in a seat they cannot fulfill is unfair to both the individual and the business.

To determine if they lack the capacity, you must evaluate them strictly using the GWC framework. While they clearly Get the seat and Want the seat, you must look at Capacity. Capacity includes time, mental capability, emotional intelligence, and specialized knowledge.

Review their Scorecard metrics and Rocks over the last two quarters. If they have received clear direction, proper training, and adequate resources, yet still miss their targets, they do not have the capacity for that specific seat.

Address this through a direct, reality-based dialogue. Mirror back their performance data without judgment. Ask them what is preventing them from succeeding. Often, they are just as frustrated as you are and will admit they are overwhelmed.

Once the capacity gap is clear, you must make a move. For a culture fit, try to find a smaller seat where they can succeed. If no such seat exists, you must make the difficult decision to transition them out of the company. Holding onto a leader who lacks capacity will hold back the entire team.