'Hire Fast and Fire Faster' Is Terrible Advice — Here's What You Should Do Instead While slow, conscientious growth may not grab headlines, it is far less risky and more sustainable than rapid expansion.
By Aytekin Tank Edited by Kara McIntyre
Key Takeaways
- Rapid hiring and firing strategies may harm rather than help startups, contradicting conventional wisdom.
- Slower, deliberate hiring processes allow for more effective leadership development and a better company culture.
- Understanding every role through gradual growth ensures better hiring decisions and long-term sustainability.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Conventional wisdom is often wrong. An apple a day will not keep the doctor away. (You definitely still need to go to the doctor, no matter how many apples you eat.) You don't need to wait 30 minutes after a meal to swim. And you should not hire fast and fire faster.
The "hire fast, fire faster" mantra has been pervasive in startup culture for years. Back in 2011, Mark Suster wrote a widely-read article for Tech Crunch asserting that "most companies hire slowly and fire slowly — the exact opposite of best practice for startups."
Suster wasn't necessarily arguing for a revolving door of employees — more so that hiring is no different than any other rapid-fire decision a founder makes. And if a hire isn't the right fit, well, delaying the inevitable doesn't help anyone.
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