Leadership, Actually
Leadership, Actually — the podcast that cuts through leadership theory and gets into the real-world challenges of managing people, performance, and culture.
Brought to you by Everground Advisory, these are short, practical episodes for founders, executives, and people leaders navigating growth, tension, and everything in between.
Leadership, Actually
How to Tell an Employee They’re Not Ready for a Promotion
One of the hardest conversations for any leader: telling a motivated employee they’re not ready for a promotion.
Done poorly, it kills motivation.
Done well, it creates clarity, direction, and trust.
In this episode of Leadership, Actually, we break down how to handle this conversation step by step — from understanding your company’s promotion process, to giving clear and actionable feedback, to mapping out a development plan that keeps ambition alive.
You’ll learn how to:
- Explain the promotion process clearly and transparently
- Acknowledge ambition without overpromising
- Name the gap with specific, observable feedback
- Connect feedback to business impact (so it sticks)
- Offer a path forward without shutting the door
This isn’t about saying “no.” It’s about saying “not yet — and here’s how you can get there.”
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