What do you do when a talented employee keeps making the same mistakes? How many conversations do you have before deciding it's time to move on?
In this solo episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard challenges the idea that employee accountability should be synonymous with punishment. Instead, he explores how leaders can use clarity, intentionality, and consistent feedback to help struggling employees grow while maintaining high expectations.
Drawing from his experience as a school leader, Darrin shares the story of an enthusiastic, talented employee whose tendency to act before understanding the full picture repeatedly created problems for the team. Rather than giving up on that employee, Darrin continued coaching, reinforcing expectations, and intentionally recognizing improvement. Eventually, that employee became one of the strongest members of the team and went on to lead a team of their own.
The lesson? Holding someone accountable doesn't have to mean giving up on them.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Three questions to take to the balcony:
Great leadership isn't about ignoring poor performance or lowering expectations. It's about creating the conditions where people can do their best work while holding them responsible for meeting the standards that matter.
"Don't confuse holding someone accountable with giving up on them."
Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI)
CLI helps school districts build clarity, consistency, and sustainable systems for curriculum leadership. Darrin has personally worked with CLI as both a principal and superintendent.
Visit https://cliweb.org to learn more. Mention the Leaning Into Leadership podcast to receive a 5% discount on your first year of services.
HeyTutor
HeyTutor partners with schools and districts to provide high-quality tutoring and academic support in English language arts and mathematics, helping students receive individualized instruction and achieve stronger learning outcomes.
Learn more: https://heytutor.com/?utm_source=RTA&utm_medium=RTA&utm_campaign=RTA
Explore leadership speaking, coaching, workshops, and retreats at https://darrinpeppard.com.
Discover more resources, books, and leadership insights at https://roadtoawesome.net.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another leader who might be navigating a difficult employee conversation. And don't forget to follow, rate, and review Leaning Into Leadership.
Keep building the next mile of your Road to Awesome!