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Hey Unfiltered Folks,
"WE KEEP HIRING 'A PLAYERS' BUT HALF LEAVE IN 90 DAYS. CULTURE POISON?"
Answer: You're uncomfortable with high performers.
You're hiring people you can control instead of people who will challenge you. When A-players show up, they ask questions. They push back. They see problems you're ignoring.
And you don't like it.
So you make them uncomfortable until they leave. w
You say you want A-players.
You don't.
You want B-players who won't challenge you.
Question to Consider: Who are you training to replace you?
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Why: Growing companies need management layers built from within.
If your managers aren't training replacements, they can't be promoted without leaving gaps. Meanwhile, A-players see no path up and leave.
Here's what's actually happening:
- Your A-players arrive excited.
- Within weeks they see that challenging ideas gets shut down.
- They see no one being groomed for advancement.
- They realize the real culture is "keep your head down and do what you're told."
- That's not what you sold them in the interview.
So they leave.
The B and C players stay because they're fine with it. Now you're stuck with a team that doesn't push. You created this by refusing to let anyone replace you or your managers.
The cost? You keep hiring expensive A-players and watching them quit.
That's wasted recruiting costs, wasted training time, and team instability. Meanwhile, your B-team wonders why you keep churning people.
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Action: Make it a rule today: training your replacement is required for promotion.
Announce it to every manager.
Give them 90 days to start.
Check progress monthly.
Coach anyone struggling.
If they're trying but not succeeding, keep coaching. After genuine effort and support, if they still refuse to develop their replacement, have a direct conversation about whether this role is the right fit.
Some people are better as individual contributors. That's fine. Create a path for them.
Stay Unfiltered,
— Andy
P.S. You're not losing A-players to culture. This is your insecurity showing up as a hiring problem.
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