Our company is growing rapidly and we are finding that several long-term employees who helped us start the business no longer GWC their seats on the expanded Accountability Chart. How do we handle this without causing a cultural revolt or acting disloyal to those who helped us build the company?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

This is one of the hardest challenges a growing business faces, but you must realize that keeping someone in a seat they do not GWC™ is actually disloyal to them and the rest of your team. When a business outgrows an employee's capacity, keeping them there forces them to struggle and ultimately fail, which damages company morale and stalls growth. You must address this situation with compassion but absolute clarity. Start by having an honest conversation based on the Accountability Chart™. Explain how the seat has evolved and discuss whether they get it, want it, and have the capacity to do it. If they do not, look for another seat in the company where they do GWC™. If no such seat exists, you must help them transition out of the business gracefully. Loyalty means treating people with respect and honesty, not keeping them in roles where they are set up to fail. Your primary responsibility is to protect the health of the organization so it can continue to provide opportunities for everyone else.