Bad person Quote by Laszlo Bock
““Poor performance is rarely because the person is incompetent or a bad person. It’s typically a result of a gap in skill (which is either fixable or not) or will (where the person is not motivated to do the work).””
About This Quote
Source Book: “Work Rules!” (2015) chapter on performance
Poor performance usually stems from skill gaps or lack of motivation, not inherent incompetence.
In simple terms: Bad results often come from missing skills or low drive.
Identify and address skill or motivation gaps.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- employee reviews
- training programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders diagnose skill vs. motivation issues?
- What interventions improve motivation?
Assuming incompetence can demotivate staff.