In a recent LinkedIn post, Lenny Rachitsky discusses a common leadership pitfall: blaming individuals for underperformance when the root cause is often structural. Rachitsky introduces insights from Molly Graham, a guest author whose experience spans Meta, Google, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to shed light on this issue.
Rachitsky highlights Graham’s observation that the immediate reaction to underperformance is often to point fingers at the people involved. However, he emphasizes, drawing from Graham’s extensive experience, that this is “almost always wrong.” This common mistake, Rachitsky explains, is a significant leadership trap.
“When a team is underperforming, most people’s first instinct is to blame the people. That’s almost always wrong.”
To combat this, Rachitsky shares the diagnostic tool that Graham has utilized since her early days leading wilderness expeditions in Patagonia. This tool, known as the Waterline Model, is designed to uncover the underlying issues that hinder team performance.
Understanding the Waterline Model
Rachitsky explains that the Waterline Model serves as a framework to identify problems that are not immediately apparent. The core purpose of this model, as presented by Rachitsky, is to answer a critical question:
Identifying Hidden Obstacles
According to Rachitsky, the Waterline Model helps leaders to understand “what’s going on below the surface that’s making things harder than they should be?” This metaphor suggests that visible performance issues are often symptoms of deeper, less obvious systemic or structural problems. Rachitsky advocates for addressing these hidden factors before they escalate.
“In other words, ‘snorkel before you scuba.'”
This pithy analogy, shared by Rachitsky, underscores the importance of preliminary investigation and understanding before diving into complex solutions. It suggests a phased approach to problem-solving, starting with surface-level diagnostics before tackling more significant, submerged challenges.
The Importance of Structural Analysis
Rachitsky, channeling Graham’s expertise, argues that effective leadership requires looking beyond individual actions to assess the broader environment and systems within which teams operate. Blaming individuals, he points out, not only fails to solve the underlying problem but can also damage morale and trust.
Leadership Lessons from Graham
Rachitsky emphasizes that Graham’s approach, honed over years of diverse leadership roles and advisory positions with prominent tech companies, offers a valuable perspective. The Waterline Model, as presented in Rachitsky’s post, is a practical tool for leaders seeking to foster more effective and sustainable team performance by addressing systemic issues proactively.
“After 20+ years at Meta, Google, and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative — and advising leaders at Stripe, Anthropic, OpenAI, and more — this week’s beloved guest author Molly Graham has learned that blaming people for structural problems is one of the biggest leadership traps there is.”
Rachitsky concludes by encouraging readers to engage with Graham’s full insights, suggesting the article is a valuable resource for managers and leaders aiming to improve their diagnostic and problem-solving capabilities.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Lenny Rachitsky on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on March 3, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →