Most interventions to help a struggling leader fail, not because they are poorly executed, but because they are solving the wrong problem.

A direct report's struggle to lead their own team is rarely just personal. It's driven by a mix of what they bring to the role, how they themselves are being led, and organizational factors — unwritten rules, politics, or pressure from above — that can condition how they're able to lead.

For example, a direct report who is naturally cautious under uncertainty may become paralyzed by indecision when their own manager also fails to give clear direction — two things compounding each other, not one alone.

Without a clear diagnosis that takes into account the full picture, any feedback or solutions to address the leadership gap treat a symptom, not the cause — eroding their confidence, wasting the investment in their development, and leaving the problem unsolved.

Identifies root causes with enough precision to act on

Uncovers the root causes driving the leadership gap and delivers precise, prioritized recommendations to address them.

Guarantees confidentiality

Team member interviews are private and individual responses are never attributed — protecting the candor the diagnosis depends on. Your interview and your direct report's interview are handled differently: since the diagnosis is specifically about how the two of you work together, your accounts are not anonymized from each other. Neither of you, however, receives transcripts or direct quotes — only my analysis.

Provides the objective perspective internal resources cannot


Brings an independent, objective perspective that doesn't evaluate either of your abilities. It's focused solely on identifying the conditions that explain the leadership behaviors you're seeing. Findings are measured against a standard of what executing leadership actually requires — regardless of anyone's leadership style. Where your direct report is getting results through an approach that simply differs from your own, the diagnostic will say so.

Uncovers whether cultural practices, unspoken rules, or power dynamics, are hampering the direct report's ability to discharge some of their leadership tasks.

• • The performance concern is isolated to a single manager rather than your broader team

  • This manager leads a team of at least three people

  • The manager possesses the required experience and capability, but is struggling to lead their team effectively

  • You can see the symptoms, but the root cause remains unclear

  • You are the direct and sole supervisor accountable for this manager's performance

  • You are ready to invest in a thorough diagnosis, and there is no plan to change the current team structure before the findings are delivered.

  • You are open to evaluating how your own leadership dynamics may contribute to the issue

The Leadership Line Diagnostic is a fixed-scope, high-impact engagement with no hidden fees or surprise billable hours.

Engagements are priced around the minimum interview floor required to protect confidentiality. The base engagement — intake, interviews with you and your direct report, and three interviews with their own direct reports — is $10,000. Each additional interview with their direct reports beyond three is $1,500. Payment is split 50/50 at engagement start and report delivery.