Why Holding Onto the Wrong Team Member Is Holding You Back

(And What to Do About It)

“I’ve kept the wrong employee for way too long.”
If you’ve ever said this, out loud or quietly in your head, you’re not alone.

As a business owner, especially in the early scaling phase, it’s easy to second-guess every decision.

And hiring? That’s a minefield of emotion, logistics and pressure.

But here’s the truth: keeping the wrong person on your team is more damaging than letting them go.

Why We Hang On Too Long

They’re nice—but not right.
It’s hard to let go of someone who’s genuinely kind. But kindness doesn’t equal competence or culture-fit.

You blame yourself.
“If I trained them better... If I spent more time onboarding…”
Sound familiar? Yes, leadership matters—but it’s not your job to carry the whole load.

You hope they’ll improve.
Spoiler: hope isn’t a strategy. If you’ve been crossing your fingers for months, it’s time for a decision.

At the root of it all? Guilt.
You’re not a bad boss for needing your business to function. You're a smart one for recognising when it doesn’t.

Why the Right Team Matters

Hiring right isn’t about luck, it’s about leadership. And the payoff is huge:

• Productivity Soars
  With aligned skills and goals, the work gets done faster, better, and with less hand-holding.

• Innovation Flows
  Diverse, engaged teams solve problems and build new ideas together.

• Culture Strengthens
  The right people lift each other up. That energy is contagious and powerful.

• Retention Improves
  People stay where they feel seen, supported and in-sync with the team.

• Decisions Get Smarter
  More brains, more perspective, less guesswork.

• Growth Accelerates
  The right team doesn’t just keep up, they push forward.

Letting someone go is never easy. But holding onto the wrong person is a hidden tax on your time, energy and growth.

As an Online Business Manager, I’ve helped founders make hard, but necessary, calls. If you’re at that crossroad, know this: the moment you say yes to the right hire, everything else gets lighter.

Let go of the guilt. Lead forward.