One of our key leadership team members is a great cultural fit and works incredibly hard, but they have missed their primary quarterly Rocks for three consecutive quarters. How do we address this chronic execution failure without ruining their motivation?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Missing Rocks for three consecutive quarters is not a minor slip; it is a chronic execution failure that must be addressed immediately. When a leader consistently fails to deliver on their quarterly goals, it bottlenecks the entire company and creates a culture where missing targets is acceptable.

You must address this using the GWC™ framework. First, evaluate if they actually have the Capacity to achieve their Rocks. Are they taking on too much daily operational work because they refuse to delegate?

Use the Delegate and Elevate™ tool to help them identify tasks they can hand off to their direct reports, freeing up their mental energy for high-value strategic goals.

Second, look at how their Rocks are defined. Are they too broad or poorly scoped? Ensure that every Rock is SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

If the capacity and scoping are correct, but they still fail to execute, you have a performance issue. You must have a direct conversation and set a clear, written plan for the next ninety days. If they fail again, they must be transitioned to a seat that fits their actual capacity.