Okay, this is the most common question I get. And people always ask it like it's a strategy question. It's not.
"Dhiren, I've got someone on my team… I don't know if I should let them go."
And here's the thing. They already know. Every time.
They're not asking me what to do. They're asking me for permission.
Because letting someone go isn't a brain problem. It's a heart problem. You've got history with this person. Loyalty. A little guilt. And that history is quietly making the call for you. Not the actual performance. That's the trap.
So I give people a cheat code. Three questions. I call it GWC.
Get it. Want it. Capacity.
Get it. Do they actually understand the role and the bar? Like, deep down, do they see it?
Want it. Do they want the job? Not the paycheck. Not the title. The work.
Capacity. Do they have the time, the skill, the horsepower to actually pull it off?
Right person, right seat needs all three.
Miss one? Cool. That's a coaching convo. Miss two? You're not managing a teammate anymore. You're babysitting a decision you already made.
And here's the part nobody tells you: the kindness isn't in keeping them. The kindness is in being clear.
Every month you stall, you're not protecting them. You're buying your own comfort. And trust me, they can feel it.
So here's the move. This week, take that name that's been living rent-free in your head. Run it through the three. Get it. Want it. Capacity.
Then stop asking whether.
Start asking when.
That's it. That's the whole thing.
