Conversation Planner · for managers
How to talk to an employee who overpromises and underdelivers
Read the approach below, or skip ahead and get a plan written for your own situation.
Plan my conversation — free ↓Why the usual approach fails
This person is usually trying to be helpful, so criticism of their output feels unfair to them. The failure happens at the moment of commitment, not at delivery. Coach how they say yes and the delivery problem mostly resolves itself.
How to open
"You say yes to nearly everything, and people love that about you. The cost is showing up, though: of the six things you committed to this month, three landed on time. I'd like to look at how you decide what to take on."
Ask before you tell
- "What goes through your mind when someone asks you for something?"
- "What makes it hard to say 'not this week'?"
- "How could you check your capacity before you answer?"
What to agree before you leave the room
One habit: "let me check and confirm by end of day" before any new commitment, and a weekly review of the list with you.
Make it yours — free
Edit the details below to match your situation and get a full five-step COACH plan by email.
Other conversations
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- How to talk to an employee who blames others →
Built on the COACH method by Jon Kludt, Business Coach · Certified EOS Implementer® · thecoachconversation.com