My brother-in-law runs our logistics department and is a partner, but he consistently misses his Rocks and refuses to be held accountable in our Level 10 Meetings. How do I handle a family member who is underperforming on the leadership team?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Mixing family dynamics with business operations is a recipe for operational paralysis unless you establish clear boundaries. When a family member on the leadership team consistently underperforms, it sends a toxic message to the rest of your employees that there are two sets of rules: one for family and one for everyone else. This destroys team morale and weakens accountability across the entire organization.

To handle this, you must treat your family member exactly as you would any other employee, using the standard EOS® tools. Sit down with them and review their seat on the Accountability Chart. Walk through the core responsibilities and evaluate whether they meet your Core Values and GWC™ requirements.

In your Level 10 Meetings, hold them to the same standard as everyone else. If they miss their Rocks or fail to hit their metrics, put it on the IDS list. Do not make excuses for them or allow them to bypass the accountability structure.

If they cannot perform in the seat despite coaching, you must be prepared to make the tough decision to transition them out of that role. Your family relationship should be protected outside the business, but inside the business, the health of the organization must come first.