<p>Prior research has predominantly demonstrated that poor subordinate performance provokes a maladaptive abusive response from supervisors. Drawing on the control-theory perspective of repetitive thought, we take a more comprehensive perspective to explore both the maladaptive and adaptive responses from supervisors to poor subordinate performance. We propose that poor subordinate task performance will trigger supervisors’ maladaptive rumination during off-work hours, resulting in increased downward abusive behavior, and will also induce supervisors’ adaptive off-work reflexivity, leading to increased managerial innovative behavior. Furthermore, supervisors’ growth mindset will serve as a moderator to reduce their maladaptive cognitive and behavioral responses to poor subordinate task performance and enhance the adaptive ones. Results from two scenario-based experiments (Studies 1a and 1b), one recall-based experiment (Study 2), and one two-wave survey (Study 3) provide support for these predictions. Our research reveals that stressful poor subordinate performance can become a mixed blessing for supervisors and offers recommendations to help them make constructive use of it.</p>