The Problem Isn't Your Employees: It's What You're Tolerating

Leslie Speas
Apr 15
2 min read

Most leaders don’t have a people problem. They have a tolerance problem.

That might sound a little harsh...but stay with me.

In most organizations I work with, the issue isn’t that people don’t care or aren’t capable. It's those certain things that have been allowed to continue for too long. And over time, it becomes the culture.

What this looks like

It usually shows up in ways that feel small in the moment but add up.

Letting inconsistent performance slide
Avoiding a conversation because it feels uncomfortable
One manager addresses issues while another ignores them
Your best employees pick up the slack for everyone else

What happens over time

People start to notice:

What gets addressed and what doesn't.
Who is held accountable and who isn't.
When effort seems to matter and when it doesn't

And they adjust.

Some may disengage. Others get frustrated or may even leave.

Usually, it’s your best people who feel it first.

The part leaders don’t always see

This isn’t about being a tough boss. Rather, it’s about clarity and consistency.

When expectations aren’t clear, people fill in the gaps. When accountability is uneven, people stop trusting the system. When things are tolerated, they become the norm.

And once that happens, you’re no longer managing performance. You’re managing workarounds.

A simple gut check

If you’re not sure whether this is happening, ask yourself:

Are expectations clear across roles and teams?
Do your managers handle issues the same way?
Do you address problems quickly, or hope they work themselves out?

If you hesitated on any of these, you’re not alone. Many organizations struggle with this, especially when in growth mode.

What actually helps

The fix isn’t to crack down or overhaul everything overnight.

It’s stepping back and getting clear on:

What’s expected
What good performance looks like
How issues are addressed
What leaders are responsible for

Then, start reinforcing it consistently.

Final thought

Culture isn’t what you say you value. It’s what you allow to continue.

If things feel harder than they should right now, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s being tolerated. That will provide direction on where to begin.