Ever had a team member miss something important…and your first instinct is, “They’re not a fit”?
Most founders jump straight to the person. It feels clean. It feels decisive.
But most “people problems” are wearing the wrong mask.
In this episode, you’ll learn the pattern almost every agency stumbles into: blaming humans for system failures. And the fix is almost never where you first look.
Here’s the reframe:
What feels like a talent issue is usually a process problem or a clarity problem long before it’s a people problem.
3️⃣ Check the process before the person. Is there a clear, current SOP? Is it followable? Was it followed?
2️⃣ Clarity beats accountability. If expectations weren’t explicit, you can’t hold someone to them.
1️⃣ Don’t “fix” fit issues. Competency or values misalignment isn’t coachable; it's a decision.
The Fix
• Audit the SOP tied to the mistake. Update gaps, assumptions, and QC steps.
• Rewrite expectations in plain language and confirm understanding, don’t assume.
• Reassess client fit: are they asking for something outside your model?
Catch the full episode on Apple | LISTEN HERE | Spotify | LISTEN HERE |
I launched a free 5 day email course for agency owners: The 5 mistakes keeping your agency stuck, and the 5 Custom GPTs that solve them. Get it free at:
THE AGENCY LEVERAGE BLUEPRINT
– Sean
P.S. The car-crash analogy in this one might change how you judge every future mistake.