Your Employee Was Blindsided by Their Review. That’s On You. | S5 EP9
If your employee is shocked by their performance review, that’s not just an employee problem. It’s a leadership problem.
In this episode of Leadership Tea, Shelby and Belinda continue their conversation on workplace evaluations by shifting the focus from employees to leaders: How should managers actually give performance feedback?
They break down the leadership mistakes that create resentment, confusion, and HR problems, and explain how thoughtful, consistent feedback builds trust, accountability, and stronger teams.
In This Episode:
Why no employee should ever be surprised by a performance review
The difference between vague criticism and actionable feedback
How to build a quarterly feedback process that actually works
Why managers must separate performance from personality
The importance of documentation, HR partnership, and protecting yourself as a leader
What firing someone taught Belinda about team morale and accountability
Why avoiding hard conversations damages trust more than having them
This episode is especially valuable for:
Managers writing employee evaluations
Executives leading high-performing teams
First-time supervisors
Leaders navigating difficult employee conversations
Anyone trying to improve workplace communication and accountability
Shelby and Belinda also discuss the emotional intelligence required to lead people fairly, especially when difficult feedback or termination decisions are involved.
This conversation is a practical guide for leaders who want to manage performance with clarity, fairness, and courage.
Listen to S5 EP9
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rFlep71HL1o
Our company, Grounded and Global Advisory, is pleased to offer a quarterly advisory retainer. For $275 per month (billed quarterly, with the option to renew each quarter), you'll receive:
One 60-minute coaching session per month
Priority access to our calendar
One annual 90-minute strategic intensive
This offer is for the person who knows what good advisory support feels like and doesn't want to lose it. Spots are limited.
If you're interested, email us directly at hello@stirringsuccess.com, and we'll be in touch.
Reach out for Coaching
The Leadership Tea Podcast is brought to you by Grounded and Global Advisory, LLC. Grounded and Global is led by two former senior U.S. diplomats with 50 combined years of experience managing crises in the world's most complex environments. Our services include executive and leadership coaching (see here for our premier Centered Leader Program), crisis management consulting, strategic advisory, and workshop facilitation. We serve high-performing individuals who operate in unique spaces, such as athletes, universities, small businesses, and non-profits. Please contact us at hello@stirringsuccess.com.
