Scenario
You are the Team Lead for a mid-sized web development agency. One of your junior frontend developers, Samantha Miller, has been consistently underperforming on recent projects. The VP of Product has expressed concerns about the impact on project timelines and quality, and has asked you to have a frank discussion with Samantha to understand the issues and get the project back on track.
Background
Samantha has been with the company for 18 months and was brought in as a junior frontend developer. She has decent technical skills but struggles with prioritizing tasks, proactively communicating with the team, and taking ownership of her work. Her recent project deliverables have been delayed, have required significant rework, and have led to frustration from both the client and the internal team.
Objectives
- Understand the root causes of Samantha's underperformance
- Agree on a plan to improve her performance and get the project back on track
- Document clear action items and success criteria to monitor progress
Constraints
- The VP wants a decision and plan of action within 25 minutes
- There is limited budget to provide additional training or support at this time
- Samantha is a valued team member, and the goal is to help her improve rather than escalate to HR
Stakeholders
- Samantha Miller, Junior Frontend Developer
- You, the Team Lead
- VP of Product, who oversees the project
Criteria
- Prioritization Skill:
- Description: Ability to focus on the most critical tasks and meet deadlines
- Positive Feedback: Samantha demonstrates strong prioritization skills, delivering high-quality work on time
- Negative Feedback: Samantha struggles to prioritize tasks, leading to missed deadlines and rework
- Stakeholder Management:
- Description: Ability to proactively communicate progress and issues to stakeholders
- Positive Feedback: Samantha keeps stakeholders informed and engaged, escalating issues early
- Negative Feedback: Samantha is reactive in her communication, often surprising stakeholders with delays or problems
- Technical Team Leadership:
- Description: Ability to take ownership of technical deliverables and mentor junior team members
- Positive Feedback: Samantha is a technical leader, providing guidance and support to the team
- Negative Feedback: Samantha struggles to take ownership of her work and lacks the confidence to mentor others