Consider this: A successful CEO isn’t the one who just hires well. It's the one who knows when to cut ties.
Let's get real.
Hiring is a CEO's forward-facing move. It's about growth, potential, ambition. But firing? It’s about safeguarding, pruning, optimizing.
Now think about Apple. Steve Jobs didn’t just rebuild Apple by hiring the right folks. He made sweeping changes, dropped non-performers, and shut down lingering projects.
Decisions make leaders. Hesitation breaks them.
When a leader hesitates to fire, it’s not just an individual at stake. It's the morale, culture, and future of the company.
If someone doesn't fit? The team notices. They talk. They question.
And every day that problem persists? It's an endorsement of mediocrity.
By not acting, a CEO says loud and clear: "This is acceptable here."
It’s not just about the individual who isn’t up to the mark. It’s about what their continued presence signals to everyone else.
A CEO's role isn't just strategy and vision. It's intervention. It's action. It's making the hard choices.
In the real world, decisions can't always be wrapped in eloquence. They need clarity, decisiveness, conviction.
So, CEOs out there, remember:
Your impact isn't measured by how many people you bring onboard. It’s determined by the tough decisions you make to ensure you've got the right team.
Because in the end? It’s not about having players on the field. It's about having the right ones.
