3 Reasons Leaders Fire People Too Slowly

Over more than 30 years running companies in Silicon Valley, I’ve seen countless situations where leaders waited too long to address poor performance. In my experience, leaders are far more likely to act too slowly than too quickly. There are three primary reasons why.

Build Your Business. Get Grant Ready.

Take free expert-led courses and unlock access to tools, mentorship, networking, and Verizon grant opportunities for small businesses.

Get Grant Ready

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Conflict Avoidance

Most of us instinctively shy away from unpleasant tasks, and few responsibilities are more difficult than letting someone go.

Regardless of how compassionately the message is delivered, termination is deeply personal. You’re not simply critiquing someone’s work. You’re telling them that, despite previous efforts and opportunities to improve, the role is no longer the right fit. The conversation often brings tears, anger, disappointment, or some combination of all three. Even when someone responds professionally, the emotional impact is usually obvious.

Not surprisingly, many leaders—including CEOs—delay making these decisions.

Few people are willing to admit that fear of confrontation is driving the delay. Instead, they often justify their hesitation with one of two common explanations. The first is that they hope the employee’s performance will improve. Unfortunately, hope isn’t a strategy. When asked what specifically gives them confidence that a meaningful turnaround is imminent, they often have no clear answer.

The second explanation is that they believe the employee will eventually leave on their own. When asked when that might happen, they usually don’t know.

In many cases, the real issue isn’t uncertainty. It’s discomfort with confronting the problem directly.

That said, termination should never be the first step. Leaders have a responsibility to provide clear expectations, regular feedback, coaching, and a reasonable opportunity for improvement. But once it’s clear that performance is unlikely to reach the required standard, delaying action rarely benefits anyone involved.

The “Someone Is Better Than No One” Fallacy

Another common justification has little to do with conflict avoidance.

Leaders sometimes say, “The employee is underperforming, but I’d rather have someone in the role than no one. If I let them go before finding a replacement, our results will suffer.”

Earlier in my career, I was somewhat sympathetic to that argument. Today, I view it differently because it often understates the damage poor performance can cause.

When an underperforming employee leaves, two things frequently happen.

First, the team finds creative ways to fill the gap while a replacement is identified. For a short period, some employees may need to take on additional responsibilities, but strong teams are often remarkably adaptable.

Second, high performers are often quietly relieved when persistent underperformance is addressed. That may sound harsh, but top performers generally have high standards and want those standards maintained. They can become frustrated when leaders tolerate poor performance for too long.

The temporary challenge of filling a vacancy is often less costly than the ongoing impact of keeping the wrong person in the role.

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */

Sign Up for The Start Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

function getCountryUnicodeFlag(countryCode) {
return countryCode.toUpperCase().replace(/./g, (char) => String.fromCodePoint(char.charCodeAt(0) + 127397))
};

// HTML sanitization function to prevent XSS
function sanitizeHtml(str) {
if (typeof str !== ‘string’) return ”;
return str
.replace(/&/g, ‘&’)
.replace(//g, ‘>’)
.replace(/”/g, ‘"’)
.replace(/’/g, ‘'’)
.replace(/\//g, ‘/’);
}

// URL sanitization function to prevent javascript: and data: URLs
function sanitizeUrl(url) {
if (typeof url !== ‘string’) return ”;
const trimmedUrl = url.trim().toLowerCase();
if (trimmedUrl.startsWith(‘javascript:’) || trimmedUrl.startsWith(‘data:’) || trimmedUrl.startsWith(‘vbscript:’)) {
return ‘#’;
}
return url;
}

const getBrowserLanguage = () => {
if (!window?.navigator?.language?.split(‘-‘)[1]) {
return window?.navigator?.language?.toUpperCase();
}
return window?.navigator?.language?.split(‘-‘)[1];
};

function getDefaultCountryProgram(defaultCountryCode, smsProgramData) {
if (!smsProgramData || smsProgramData.length === 0) {
return null;
}

const browserLanguage = getBrowserLanguage();

if (browserLanguage) {
const foundProgram = smsProgramData.find(
(program) => program?.countryCode === browserLanguage,
);
if (foundProgram) {
return foundProgram;
}
}

if (defaultCountryCode) {
const foundProgram = smsProgramData.find(
(program) => program?.countryCode === defaultCountryCode,
);
if (foundProgram) {
return foundProgram;
}
}

return smsProgramData[0];
}

function updateSmsLegalText(countryCode, fieldName) {
if (!countryCode || !fieldName) {
return;
}

const programs = window?.MC?.smsPhoneData?.programs;
if (!programs || !Array.isArray(programs)) {
return;
}

const program = programs.find(program => program?.countryCode === countryCode);
if (!program || !program.requiredTemplate) {
return;
}

var smsConsentHtmlRenderingFixEnabled = true;

const legalTextElement = document.querySelector(‘#legal-text-‘ + fieldName);
if (!legalTextElement) {
return;
}

const divRegex = new RegExp(‘]*>’, ‘gi’);
const blockWrapperRegex = new RegExp(‘]*>’, ‘gi’);
const fullAnchorRegex = new RegExp(‘<a.*?', 'g');
const anchorRegex = new RegExp('(.*?)’);

const template = smsConsentHtmlRenderingFixEnabled
? program.requiredTemplate
.replace(/\s*

]*>/gi, ‘ ‘)
.replace(blockWrapperRegex, ”)
: program.requiredTemplate.replace(divRegex, ”);

legalTextElement.textContent=””;
const parts = template.split(/(.*?)/g);
parts.forEach(function(part) {
if (!part) {
return;
}
const anchorMatch = part.match(/(.*?)/);
if (anchorMatch) {
const linkElement = document.createElement(‘a’);
linkElement.href = sanitizeUrl(anchorMatch[1]);
linkElement.target = sanitizeHtml(anchorMatch[2]);
linkElement.textContent = sanitizeHtml(anchorMatch[3]);
legalTextElement.appendChild(linkElement);
} else {
legalTextElement.appendChild(document.createTextNode(part));
}
});

}

function generateDropdownOptions(smsProgramData) {
if (!smsProgramData || smsProgramData.length === 0) {
return ”;
}

var programs = false
? smsProgramData.filter(function(p, i, arr) {
return arr.findIndex(function(q) { return q.countryCode === p.countryCode; }) === i;
})
: smsProgramData;

return programs.map(program => {
const flag = getCountryUnicodeFlag(program.countryCode);
const countryName = getCountryName(program.countryCode);
const callingCode = program.countryCallingCode || ”;
// Sanitize all values to prevent XSS
const sanitizedCountryCode = sanitizeHtml(program.countryCode || ”);
const sanitizedCountryName = sanitizeHtml(countryName || ”);
const sanitizedCallingCode = sanitizeHtml(callingCode || ”);
return ” + sanitizedCountryName + ‘ ‘ + sanitizedCallingCode + ”;
}).join(”);
}

function getDefaultPlaceholder(countryCode) {
if (!countryCode || typeof countryCode !== 'string') {
return '+1 000 000 0000'; // Default US placeholder
}

var mockPlaceholders = [
{
countryCode: 'US',
placeholder: '+1 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Include the US country code +1 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'GB',
placeholder: '+44 0000 000000',
helpText: 'Include the GB country code +44 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'CA',
placeholder: '+1 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Include the CA country code +1 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'AU',
placeholder: '+61 000 000 000',
helpText: 'Include the AU country code +61 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'DE',
placeholder: '+49 000 0000000',
helpText: 'Fügen Sie vor der Telefonnummer die DE-Ländervorwahl +49 ein',
},
{
countryCode: 'FR',
placeholder: '+33 0 00 00 00 00',
helpText: 'Incluez le code pays FR +33 avant le numéro de téléphone',
},
{
countryCode: 'ES',
placeholder: '+34 000 000 000',
helpText: 'Incluya el código de país ES +34 antes del número de teléfono',
},
{
countryCode: 'NL',
placeholder: '+31 0 00000000',
helpText: 'Voeg de NL-landcode +31 toe vóór het telefoonnummer',
},
{
countryCode: 'BE',
placeholder: '+32 000 00 00 00',
helpText: 'Incluez le code pays BE +32 avant le numéro de téléphone',
},
{
countryCode: 'CH',
placeholder: '+41 00 000 00 00',
helpText: 'Fügen Sie vor der Telefonnummer die CH-Ländervorwahl +41 ein',
},
{
countryCode: 'AT',
placeholder: '+43 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Fügen Sie vor der Telefonnummer die AT-Ländervorwahl +43 ein',
},
{
countryCode: 'IE',
placeholder: '+353 00 000 0000',
helpText: 'Include the IE country code +353 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'IT',
placeholder: '+39 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Includere il prefisso internazionale IT +39 prima del numero di telefono',
},
];

const selectedPlaceholder = mockPlaceholders.find(function(item) {
return item && item.countryCode === countryCode;
});

return selectedPlaceholder ? selectedPlaceholder.placeholder : mockPlaceholders[0].placeholder;
}

function updatePlaceholder(countryCode, fieldName) {
if (!countryCode || !fieldName) {
return;
}

const phoneInput = document.querySelector('#mce-' + fieldName);
if (!phoneInput) {
return;
}

const placeholder = getDefaultPlaceholder(countryCode);
if (placeholder) {
phoneInput.placeholder = placeholder;
}
}

function updateCountryCodeInstruction(countryCode, fieldName) {
updatePlaceholder(countryCode, fieldName);

}

function getDefaultHelpText(countryCode) {
var mockPlaceholders = [
{
countryCode: 'US',
placeholder: '+1 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Include the US country code +1 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'GB',
placeholder: '+44 0000 000000',
helpText: 'Include the GB country code +44 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'CA',
placeholder: '+1 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Include the CA country code +1 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'AU',
placeholder: '+61 000 000 000',
helpText: 'Include the AU country code +61 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'DE',
placeholder: '+49 000 0000000',
helpText: 'Fügen Sie vor der Telefonnummer die DE-Ländervorwahl +49 ein',
},
{
countryCode: 'FR',
placeholder: '+33 0 00 00 00 00',
helpText: 'Incluez le code pays FR +33 avant le numéro de téléphone',
},
{
countryCode: 'ES',
placeholder: '+34 000 000 000',
helpText: 'Incluya el código de país ES +34 antes del número de teléfono',
},
{
countryCode: 'NL',
placeholder: '+31 0 00000000',
helpText: 'Voeg de NL-landcode +31 toe vóór het telefoonnummer',
},
{
countryCode: 'BE',
placeholder: '+32 000 00 00 00',
helpText: 'Incluez le code pays BE +32 avant le numéro de téléphone',
},
{
countryCode: 'CH',
placeholder: '+41 00 000 00 00',
helpText: 'Fügen Sie vor der Telefonnummer die CH-Ländervorwahl +41 ein',
},
{
countryCode: 'AT',
placeholder: '+43 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Fügen Sie vor der Telefonnummer die AT-Ländervorwahl +43 ein',
},
{
countryCode: 'IE',
placeholder: '+353 00 000 0000',
helpText: 'Include the IE country code +353 before the phone number',
},
{
countryCode: 'IT',
placeholder: '+39 000 000 0000',
helpText: 'Includere il prefisso internazionale IT +39 prima del numero di telefono',
},
];

if (!countryCode || typeof countryCode !== 'string') {
return mockPlaceholders[0].helpText;
}

const selectedHelpText = mockPlaceholders.find(function(item) {
return item && item.countryCode === countryCode;
});

return selectedHelpText ? selectedHelpText.helpText : mockPlaceholders[0].helpText;
}

function setDefaultHelpText(countryCode) {
const helpTextSpan = document.querySelector('#help-text');
if (!helpTextSpan) {
return;
}

}

function updateHelpTextCountryCode(countryCode, fieldName) {
if (!countryCode || !fieldName) {
return;
}

setDefaultHelpText(countryCode);
}

function initializeSmsPhoneDropdown(fieldName) {
if (!fieldName || typeof fieldName !== 'string') {
return;
}

const dropdown = document.querySelector('#country-select-' + fieldName);
const displayFlag = document.querySelector('#flag-display-' + fieldName);

if (!dropdown || !displayFlag) {
return;
}

const smsPhoneData = window.MC?.smsPhoneData;
if (smsPhoneData && smsPhoneData.programs && Array.isArray(smsPhoneData.programs)) {
dropdown.innerHTML = generateDropdownOptions(smsPhoneData.programs);
}

const defaultProgram = getDefaultCountryProgram(smsPhoneData?.defaultCountryCode, smsPhoneData?.programs);
if (defaultProgram && defaultProgram.countryCode) {
dropdown.value = defaultProgram.countryCode;

const flagSpan = displayFlag?.querySelector('#flag-emoji-' + fieldName);
if (flagSpan) {
flagSpan.textContent = getCountryUnicodeFlag(defaultProgram.countryCode);
flagSpan.setAttribute('aria-label', sanitizeHtml(defaultProgram.countryCode) + ' flag');
}

updateSmsLegalText(defaultProgram.countryCode, fieldName);
updatePlaceholder(defaultProgram.countryCode, fieldName);
updateCountryCodeInstruction(defaultProgram.countryCode, fieldName);
}

var phoneInput = document.querySelector('#mce-' + fieldName);
if (phoneInput && defaultProgram.countryCallingCode && shouldAppendCountryCode) {
phoneInput.value = defaultProgram.countryCallingCode;
}

displayFlag?.addEventListener('click', function(e) {
dropdown.focus();
});

dropdown?.addEventListener('change', function() {
const selectedCountry = this.value;

if (!selectedCountry || typeof selectedCountry !== 'string') {
return;
}

const flagSpan = displayFlag?.querySelector('#flag-emoji-' + fieldName);
if (flagSpan) {
flagSpan.textContent = getCountryUnicodeFlag(selectedCountry);
flagSpan.setAttribute('aria-label', sanitizeHtml(selectedCountry) + ' flag');
}

const selectedProgram = window.MC?.smsPhoneData?.programs.find(function(program) {
return program && program.countryCode === selectedCountry;
});

var phoneInput = document.querySelector('#mce-' + fieldName);
if (phoneInput && selectedProgram.countryCallingCode && shouldAppendCountryCode) {
phoneInput.value = selectedProgram.countryCallingCode;
}

updateSmsLegalText(selectedCountry, fieldName);
updatePlaceholder(selectedCountry, fieldName);
updateCountryCodeInstruction(selectedCountry, fieldName);
});
}

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
const smsPhoneFields = document.querySelectorAll('[id^="country-select-"]');

smsPhoneFields.forEach(function(dropdown) {
const fieldName = dropdown?.id.replace('country-select-', '');
initializeSmsPhoneDropdown(fieldName);
});
});

Rationalizing Bad Behavior

Leaders also tend to delay action when the issue is behavior rather than performance.

In the typical scenario, an employee produces strong results but is extremely difficult to work with. They may be arrogant, manipulative, untrustworthy, relentlessly negative, or prone to creating conflict. Because their individual performance appears strong, managers often rationalize the behavior or convince themselves it’s worth tolerating.

In my experience, that’s rarely the right decision.

The problem is that these individuals often create damage far beyond their own role. They undermine collaboration, reduce trust, and negatively affect the performance of those around them.

Even when their personal results are positive, their overall impact on the organization can be overwhelmingly negative. They become a corrosive force that weakens culture and team effectiveness. In many cases, addressing the issue quickly is the best decision for both the team and the business.

The Difficult Responsibility of Leadership

Firing people is one of the hardest parts of leadership, regardless of how justified the decision may be.

Over the course of my career, I’ve had to let go of hundreds of employees due to poor performance or toxic behavior, and it never becomes easy. But if you want to build a high-performing organization, there are times when it’s necessary.

Great leaders don’t avoid difficult decisions. They make them thoughtfully, compassionately, and without unnecessary delay.

Image by pch.vector on Magnific

The post 3 Reasons Leaders Fire People Too Slowly appeared first on StartupNation.

Source link

3 Reasons Leaders Fire People Too Slowly

Prediction market traders’ expectations for the NY primaries

Prime Day One: Our Top Favorite 15 Deals!

Related Posts

Most advice on becoming happier assumes it is up to you, but the evidence is humbler: much of the variation is dispositional, the claim that 40 per cent sits within your control does not hold up, and what works best points outward, towards other people

Malachyte Raises $10M to Solve E-Commerce’s Biggest Blind Spot: the Visitor Who Never Logs In – AlleyWatch

Attraction behaves less like a fixed physical fact than a running judgement: in one study an unpleasant personality made people rate the same face as less attractive, and feeling understood by a partner is what sustains desire: the actions that destroy attraction mostly reveal character

How to Scale Finance and Operations Without Adding Overhead in 2026

Why Transparency Wins Long-Term in Business: The Competitive Advantage Most Companies Ignore

The generation that came of age with answering machines, handwritten letters, and phone books isn’t nostalgic for slower technology, they remember when being unreachable for a few hours was considered normal instead of a small emergency other people had to manage around

Prime Day One: Our Top Favorite 15 Deals!

Does NAPFA's new fiduciary definition clarify or muddy the water for clients?

Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – From Spy Satellites to Peace Satellites

US prosecutors examine LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter-linked insurers – report

Bond Vet and Small Door Merge to Form One of the Nation’s Largest Premium Veterinary Networks – AlleyWatch

Teachers’ Unions Shell Out More Than $1 Billion on Politics

Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights?

Product-Market Fit Expires Every 90 Days. Here’s What to Do About It.

The Unwinnable Iran War | Armstrong Economics

EU to Advance MiCA Review, Targeting Non-EU Stablecoin Rules

Banks or NBFCs? DSP’s Preethi R S explains where she sees the best opportunities

Nutex outlines 3 hospital openings in H2 2026 while maintaining 3 to 5 openings per year (NASDAQ:NUTX)

Even China is finding economic growth harder to come by these days

AI Is Starting to Improve Itself

Banks or NBFCs? DSP’s Preethi R S explains where she sees the best opportunities

EU to Advance MiCA Review, Targeting Non-EU Stablecoin Rules

The Unwinnable Iran War | Armstrong Economics

Even China is finding economic growth harder to come by these days

All signs are pointing to the total and imminent collapse of the United States housing market.

Nutex outlines 3 hospital openings in H2 2026 while maintaining 3 to 5 openings per year (NASDAQ:NUTX)

CATEGORIES

LATEST UPDATES

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

3 Reasons Leaders Fire People Too Slowly

Build Your Business. Get Grant Ready. Take free expert-led courses and unlock access to tools, mentorship, networking, and Verizon grant opportunities for small businesses. Get Grant Ready We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Conflict Avoidance

The “Someone Is Better Than No One” Fallacy

Sign Up for The Start Newsletter

Rationalizing Bad Behavior

The Difficult Responsibility of Leadership

Prediction market traders’ expectations for the NY primaries

Prime Day One: Our Top Favorite 15 Deals!

Related Posts

CATEGORIES

LATEST UPDATES

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Build Your Business. Get Grant Ready.

Take free expert-led courses and unlock access to tools, mentorship, networking, and Verizon grant opportunities for small businesses.

Get Grant Ready

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.