Why This Law Exists
This is a leadership starting assumption, not an excuse for poor performance. A fair diagnosis examines desire, capability, environment, role fit, authority, workload, tools, process, incentives, and coaching before concluding that the individual lacks commitment.
Executive Standard
Create the clarity, capability, authority, support, feedback, and operating conditions that allow success to become repeatable — while maintaining honest standards and consequences when supported expectations are not met.
Required Leadership Behaviors
- Coach from evidence rather than frustration.
- Distinguish desire, capability, environment, and role fit.
- Provide a reasonable opportunity and support for improvement.
- Hold people accountable fairly after the operating conditions have been examined.
Evidence of Maturity
- Employees know what success looks like and what they can decide.
- Managers spend more time coaching than assembling reports.
- Early escalation is treated as responsible leadership behavior.
- Performance decisions use evidence and documented support, not assumptions about intent.
Failure Signals
Pressure replaces diagnosis; trust declines; employees wait for permission, disclose less, and avoid risk; high performers are overused as permanent workarounds.
Executive Reflection