Motivate an Underperforming Team Member

Someone who used to be reliable has been flat for months and you cannot tell why. Give it the context, the timeframe and what might be behind it. You get a framework to separate motivation from capability from circumstance, the open questions to find out which it is, and ways to re-engage them. For managers about to have a reset conversation with a fading star.

I have a team member, {TEAM_MEMBER_CONTEXT}, who was previously a strong performer but has been underperforming for the past {TIMEFRAME}. Possible factors include: {POSSIBLE_FACTORS}. Help me prepare for a reset conversation. I need: (1) A framework for understanding whether this is a motivation, capability, or circumstance issue; (2) Specific open-ended questions to surface what's really going on; (3) Reengagement strategies tailored to each root cause scenario; (4) Language I can use to express confidence in them without minimising the performance concern; (5) A 2-week action plan I can co-create with them in the meeting. Tone should be direct but empathetic: I want to coach, not criticise.