Underperforming Team Member? What Should a TPM Do? | Practical Approach

What should a Technical Project Manager do when a team member is consistently missing deadlines or delivering work with quality issues? Should you escalate? Reassign the work? Give them more time? Or should you first understand what is actually causing the problem? In this video, we take a practical TPM approach to handling underperforming team members — focusing on *understanding, communication, support, accountability, and project delivery.* We’ll discuss: • How to identify a real performance pattern • Why you shouldn't jump to conclusions • How to find the root cause • How to have the right private conversation • Skill gaps, workload, dependencies, and unclear requirements • How a TPM can work with an Engineering Manager • Setting clear expectations and tracking progress • Protecting the project while supporting the team member • When escalation may become necessary • Why public call-outs can damage team trust The goal isn't simply to identify who's causing the problem. The goal is to understand *what is causing the problem, what action can be taken, and how to protect both the team and the project.* What would you do if a team member repeatedly missed commitments? Would you first focus on performance, or first understand the reason behind it? Share your experience in the comments. Subscribe for more practical discussions on *Technical Project Management, Engineering Leadership, Team Management, and Technology.* #TechnicalProjectManager #TPM #ProjectManagement #EngineeringLeadership #TeamManagement