We have a loyal department head who fits our core values perfectly and wants her seat, but she refuses to adopt our new AI operational tools and simply lacks the capacity to run her seat at this higher technical level. How do we handle this GWC™ call?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

This is one of the toughest calls an owner has to make, but you cannot compromise the future of the company for past loyalty. In the EOS® model, to be in the right seat, an individual must fully GWC the role. That means they must get it, want it, and have the capacity to do it. Capacity is not just about time; it is also about mental capability, physical capability, and technical capability. If your business has evolved to run on AI-powered operations and she cannot or will not adapt, she no longer has the capacity for that specific seat. She is a Right Person, but she is now in the Wrong Seat. Your first move is to have an honest, direct conversation. Explain how the seat has changed and the technical expectations required. If she is open to training, give her a clear timeline, perhaps thirty or sixty days, to master the new tools. If she still cannot meet the capacity requirement, you must move her out of that seat. Because she is a Right Person who fits your core values, look at your Accountability Chart to see if there is another seat where she does GWC the roles. If no such seat exists, you must make the hard decision to let her go. Keeping her in a seat she cannot perform holds the company back and sets her up for failure.