568 :: 3 Signs You’re Blaming the Person Instead of the Situation & How To Avoid Losing Great People

What if the struggling employee you’re ready to demote, sideline, or fire isn’t the problem?

When results fall short, it’s easy to blame the person responsible. A manager misses a target, so they must be a bad manager. A salesperson misses quota, so they must be a bad salesperson. But results are rarely created by the individual alone.

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann uses Christopher Nolan’s split from Warner Brothers, and his subsequent success with Universal, to unpack the fundamental attribution error and show construction leaders why separating the person from the situation can lead to much better talent decisions.

You’ll discover:

• How to distinguish an employee’s actual performance from the circumstances influencing their results.
• Three questions to ask before demoting, firing, or giving up on someone who appears to be struggling.
• Why looking at a person’s longer track record can prevent one bad result, or one unusual situation, from costing you great talent.

Play the episode to learn how to evaluate your people in context, avoid costly talent mistakes, and make smarter leadership decisions when results fall short.

Learn more about the Fundamental Attribution Error in Episode 494 and Episode 419

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You’ll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you’re leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.