Your first duty is to the ship

One of the most important lessons I wish I had learned earlier in my leadership career is the concept that your first duty is to the ship. As a leader, you will inevitably encounter team members who have potential, who you like, and who deliver results, yet they have significant gaps. And there will be times when you’re simply not equipped, either in terms of resources or experience, to help them overcome those gaps. While you might be able to do so in 1, 2, or even 10 years, sometimes you’re not ready to do it now.

In these situations, it’s crucial to remember that your responsibility is to execute and perform for the company with the mission you have now, today. If you’ve tried everything, provided support, given them chances, and accompanied them in their growth, but still can’t help them reach their potential, it might be time to let them go. It’s a hard reality, but they may find more success under a different leader or in a different environment.

This isn’t about giving up; it’s about recognizing that sometimes you’re not the right person to guide them, at least not right now.

As leaders, we often believe we can turn anyone around. But that’s not our primary job. Your job is to achieve results for the organization, not subsidize endless learning curves that don’t lead to those results. You’ll know when you’re at that point if you’re honest with yourself. If you realize that you’re not the right person to help someone be their best, it’s better for everyone involved to acknowledge that. Sometimes, moving someone to a different team or environment is the best decision.

The only exception to this rule is if you decide you can’t deliver the mission you’ve been tasked with, then you’re on a different journey altogether. But if you’re committed to the mission, sometimes you have to let go of the people who aren’t moving it forward, even if you wish you could save them.