When Leaders Step Up: A Story About Accountability and Growth
The Moment Everything Changed
My new employee thought he was doing okay his first week. To be clear he is an unpaid intern looking to learn from Tank. He'd shown up to the role-play session, he was engaged, he was trying. But halfway through our coaching call, I realized something: I had failed him.
Not because he wasn't performing—but because I hadn't set clear expectations the first day. I hadn't given him the structure he needed to succeed. And in that moment, I had a choice: let it slide, or step up and lead.
I chose to lead.
The Hard Truth About Scaling
When you're building a company, there's a dangerous trap that catches many founders: assuming people know what you know. You hire smart people, give them autonomy, and expect them to run. And sometimes they do (if they’ve done it before).
But he wasn't running. He was drifting.
The script I'd asked him to master? Still not practiced.
The warm outreach list? Not started.
The daily updates? Silence.
The old me might have been frustrated. "Why didn't he do the work?" But the leader I'm becoming recognized the truth: This was on me.
What Real Leadership Looks Like
In that moment on the call, I did something that felt uncomfortable but necessary:
I reset everything.
"The minimum standard around here is we do our job and communicate. It's been 2 days and no work has been completed, and I haven't heard from you.”
Silence
“Within 24 hours, you need to complete three tasks. If I don't get an email by 10 AM Friday—not 10:01—you're fired."
They didn't hear anger. He heard clarity. He heard care.
You may be thinking “fired”. Yes, off the team.
If you cannot maintain the minimum standard we expect: do work and provide updates
Then this is not the place for you. We will not be a good steward of your career.
My intern said: "This is what I wished for. Clarity of what to do. This is why I wanted to work here. This is what I expected from you."
The Leadership Framework
Here's what I learned about leading as you scale:
1. Own Your Failures First
Before I could hold them accountable, I had to acknowledge: "I failed you. I didn't set clear expectations. I didn't create structure. I assumed you knew how sales worked."
2. Set Crystal-Clear Standards
Not "do your best." Not "when you get a chance."
Three specific tasks
One clear deadline
Two acceptable outcomes: completion or "I got stuck, here's where"
3. Build Systems, Not Dependencies
I gave him:
A daily tracker
Weekly accountability docs
Meeting rhythms
A framework for communication
"If you don't have a way to track it, we're both gonna be pulling our hair out."
4. Lead With Urgency
Sales taught me this: speed is king. When someone reaches out, you respond immediately. When you commit to something, you act.
"The way you do some things is how you do everything."
5. Care Enough to Be Direct
The most powerful moment wasn't the ultimatum. It was this:
"I'm not gonna help people that don't want to help themselves. You're sabotaging yourself. You talk about going all in. Do it."
Then: "I'm telling you this as a friend."
What Changed For My Employee?
They didn't hear criticism. He heard:
Clarity in a world of confusion
Structure when he was drifting
Care masked as toughness
Belief that he could be exceptional
His response captured it perfectly: "We need to be reminded more than we need to be taught."
And: "This is what I expected. This is a first for me, in terms of, like, sales environment. You being a leader that's like this. I appreciate it a lot."
The Lesson for Every Scaling Leader
As you grow, you'll face this moment repeatedly. Someone isn't performing. The easy path is to blame them, fire them, or let it slide.
The leader's path is harder:
Recognize your role in their struggle
Set clear, non-negotiable standards
Give them the tools to succeed
Hold them accountable with care
Follow through—no exceptions
That's leadership. Not perfection. Not having all the answers. But having the courage to say "I messed up," followed immediately by "Here's how we fix it."
My intern left the meeting and typed this out:
“Frank showed real leadership here no BS, just honesty and direction. I realized I was getting in my own way.”
The Result
Not twenty-four hours later, but 3 hours later they delivered. Not because I threatened him. Because I finally showed up as the leader he needed.
And in doing so, I reminded myself what leadership really means:
Clear expectations. Genuine care. Uncompromising standards. And the humility to own your part first.
"I won't get fired. I'll do what's required."
That's not just a promise from an employee to a boss. That's what happens when leaders create the conditions for people to win.
