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Hey Unfiltered Folks,
"I'M AFRAID TO FIRE THE WRONG PEOPLE SO I FIRE NO ONE."
Answer: So you're keeping the wrong people because you're scared.
That's cowardice. Meanwhile, your best people are leaving because they're tired of carrying dead weight.
This is your failure.
You're protecting low performers at the expense of high performers. That's backwards leadership.
You're the problem. Every day you don't fire the wrong people, you're telling your best people their work doesn't matter. They're watching. They're leaving.
Question to Consider: Who are you protecting and why?
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— Back —
Why: Refusing to fire anyone punishes your best people and protects your worst.
You have someone who isn't cutting it.
Everyone knows.
The team knows.
You know.
But you're scared.
What if you fire them and it was the wrong call?
What if they sue?
What if the team thinks you're heartless?
So you keep them.
Meanwhile, your A-players are picking up their slack. They're working extra hours. Covering their mistakes. Doing their job and the underperformer's job. They resent it. They resent you for allowing it.
The cost? Your best people quit. They go somewhere they don't have to carry dead weight. The underperformer stays. Now your team is weaker. The ones who remain learn: performance doesn't matter. The boss won't fire anyone. So effort drops. Standards die.
You've created a culture where mediocrity is safe and excellence is punished. All because you were too scared to have one hard conversation.
Action: Pick the bottom 10% this week.
Before firing anyone, ensure you have documented performance issues and have followed your company's HR procedures.
Give them a 60-day plan with clear metrics and weekly one-on-ones for performance issues. Culture violations and toxic behavior get 30 days max.
Be direct: 'Here's what needs to change. Here's the timeline. I'm here to coach you.' If they don't improve after genuine coaching and your company's due process, consult HR/legal before the final conversation.
Stay Unfiltered,
— Andy
P.S. The cost? Your best people quit. They go somewhere they don't have to carry dead weight.
P.S.S. Buy my book to get 75 of the most painful leadership problems and fixes.
