A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) can feel like a career death sentence.

For a lot of people, getting put on a PIP feels deeply personal. It can hit your confidence, make you question your future, and leave you wondering whether you are already halfway out the door.

In this episode, Ryan and Erny talk about PIPs from both sides.

Ryan shares what it was like to be put on a PIP himself, including how hard it hit when it felt personal instead of productive. Erny talks about how leaders should approach performance issues before they ever get to that point, and why no employee should be blindsided by critical feedback at evaluation time.

They also get into:

• when a PIP is being used the right way
• when it starts to feel weaponized
• why accountability matters
• how leaders can communicate clearly and empathetically
• and why a PIP does not automatically mean your career is over

This episode is for leaders who want to handle performance issues better, and for employees who need the reminder that one hard moment does not define the rest of their career.

A PIP may be a setback, but it does not have to be the end.

Leading Ain’t Easy is hosted by Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley.

• Ryan is the founder of Reframe & Rise, a career and leadership coaching practice helping veterans and other professionals realign their work and lead with purpose.
• Erny runs Bus Pro Network, supporting school transportation leaders across California with training and development.

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