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throw-it-away24on Ask HN: How do you fire a “B Player?”

We're paying too much for a "B"

throw-it-away24on Ask HN: How do you fire a “B Player?”

Yeah, I probably am a "B Player" CEO. I'm working on it.

To be clear, I know I will be letting this person go, I just want to know what the best way to do it is.

throw-it-away24on Ask HN: How do you fire a “B Player?”

I talk with him all the time about where he stands. That still doesn't make it easy.

throw-it-away24on Ask HN: How do you fire a “B Player?”

> How many hours per week are you spending helping him? And how long have you been helping him?

Probably 1/4 to 1/2 of my working day every day. We're a small company, ~7 ppl, I'm the CEO. I'm not a great designer, but some of the stuff he/she sends back is just amateurish. It ends up mostly-amateurish-but-shippable if I spend forever with him on it, but other designers I've worked with in the past have delivered much higher quality stuff for much less, and with way less headache. I think it may just be a sheer talent thing at this point, and I don't know how to instill talent.

> based on what? People I've worked with in the past, including the person I'm going to hire to replace this person. I guess you'll just have to trust me on that though.

I recognize we hired a decent performer when we wanted a top performer. If you know a way to unilaterally avoid that I'm all ears. And yes, I am willing to pay for a top performer.

What I am not looking forward to now is actually firing this person.

throw-it-away24on Ask HN: How do you fire a “B Player?”

He's been with us for long enough we (meaning I) should have recognized that earlier, so part of the problem was my fault - poor management.

This just really sucks. It's like if I do poorly other people lose.

Maybe I'm overly sensitive to this because I've been fired before and it really sucked, but it was devastating. I don't want him to have the same experience I did, because he doesn't deserve it.

throw-it-away24on Ask HN: How do you fire a “B Player?”

Legally it won't be a problem.

The cost isn't a factor (I mean maybe it is subconsciously), I just added that to say that we can get better talent for less - we're not just getting subpar talent because we're not paying enough. I really just want the best person.