How should a team leader approach underperforming employees?

A team leader should focus on providing constructive feedback and setting improvement goals for underperforming employees because this approach fosters a positive work environment and encourages employee development. By offering specific, actionable feedback, the team leader assists the individual in understanding their performance gaps and how to address them. This not only helps improve the employee's skills and confidence but also demonstrates to the team that the organization values personal growth and support.

Setting improvement goals is essential because it provides a clear path for the underperforming employee to follow. It allows them to see what is expected and understand how they can achieve those expectations within a supportive framework. Such an approach also helps build a stronger team dynamic, as it reinforces the idea that everyone has the potential to improve and succeed with the right guidance and resources.

In contrast, immediate termination can be detrimental to morale and productivity, while ignoring the issue or only providing feedback when complaints arise fails to address the root problem and can lead to further issues down the line.