Rethinking Performance Problems: A Human-Centered Approach to Diagnosing What’s Really Going On

Performance issues are almost never about “poor performers”—they’re about mismatches, missing supports, invisible barriers, and misunderstood expectations. Yet many performance-diagnosis practices rely on surface-level tools (like 360s or generic evaluations) that fail to uncover root causes or guide leaders toward meaningful action. This session offers a practical and empathic approach to diagnosing performance challenges in ways that honor the complexity of work and the humans doing it.

We’ll explore a holistic, leader‑friendly diagnostic model that looks beyond individual behavior and includes environmental, structural, motivational, cultural, and cognitive factors that influence performance. Leaders will learn how to identify signals, ask deeper questions, and use structured curiosity to uncover the right problem before prescribing solutions. We’ll also introduce coaching-style conversation frameworks that build psychological safety so leaders can better understand what employees are experiencing.

In this interactive session, we’ll analyze real-world performance scenarios and practice diagnosing root causes using an accessible, repeatable tool. Attendees will walk away with a clear process for distinguishing between skill gaps, motivation issues, process problems, conflicting priorities, and systemic barriers—and choosing aligned interventions that promote growth instead of blame.

This session is ideal for leaders who want to elevate performance management from corrective action to collaborative problem‑solving.

Attendees will learn how to:

Apply a holistic performance-diagnosis model that identifies environmental, cognitive, motivational, and systemic contributors to performance issues. 

Use structured questioning and empathic listening to uncover root causes with psychological safety and trust. 

Differentiate between skill gaps, workflow issues, and misaligned expectations to ensure the right problem is being solved.