ScalingEmerging Pattern

Fire underperformers within months of identifying poor fit to protect team morale

Q: How many founders have validated "fire underperformers within months of identifying poor fit to protect team morale"?

1 founder has proven this pattern works. Examples include Molly Graham (Facebook).

High performers sitting next to low performers wonder why you're paying them. This erodes confidence and has long-term ramifications. It only takes a couple months to assess whether someone is a good fit - if the answer is no, part ways quickly.

When to use

When you've identified an employee isn't meeting expectations after their ramp-up period

Don't do this

Waiting a year to fire obvious poor fits because it's uncomfortable, while watching team confidence erode

1 Founder Who Did This

Facebookby Molly Graham

Graham observed that great employees sitting next to low performers wondered why Facebook was paying them, which eroded team confidence

Result:Quick firing decisions protected team morale and prevented low performer culture from spreading through referral networks

Read full story →