“She’s not committed.”
A label might sound like an explanation. But it’s really a judgment.
And here’s the problem: you can’t coach a judgment.
You can’t observe or measure it.
You definitely can’t reinforce it.
So what can you do instead?
You can pinpoint.
Instead of saying someone is “not committed,” look at what they do. Maybe they:
- Arrive 15 minutes late three times a week
- Skip updating the team when they hit blockers
- Don’t speak up in meetings
Now you’ve got something to work with. You can give feedback like:
“I noticed you skipped today’s update. Can you jump in and share where you’re at?”
This opens the door for accountability.
And support.
And improvement.
Here’s the bonus: When you talk about behavior instead of character, people don’t get defensive. You’re not attacking who they are. You’re addressing what happened—and how to fix it.
That’s how real leadership conversations happen.
