Use specific examples and focus on behaviour, not character. "You missed three deadlines this month" is actionable; "You are unreliable" is not.
Strong answers show: early and direct conversation, specific behavioural examples (not personality judgments), clear expectations and timeline, support and resources offered, documentation throughout, and escalation when improvement was not sufficient. Best candidates show genuine care for the person alongside accountability for results.
Critical leadership skill. Avoiding difficult conversations is the most common leadership failure. Ask follow-up: "What if they still did not improve after your intervention?" to test decisiveness.