One of our leadership team members was caught speaking disparagingly about our company's future to mid-level managers. The executive team wants them fired immediately, but they are our top-performing product developer. How do I handle this breach of trust at the leadership table?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When a leadership team member actively undermines the company to the ranks, they have committed a major breach of trust. A high-performing product developer who behaves this way is a cultural cancer. If you allow them to stay because of their technical talent, you are telling the rest of your organization that performance matters more than core values.

You must handle this immediately and directly. First, gather the facts. Do not rely on hearsay. Once you have confirmed the behavior, schedule a private meeting.

Use the People Analyzer™ to evaluate them. A leader must align with your core values one hundred percent of the time. Speaking disparagingly to subordinates is a clear violation of leadership responsibility. It destroys the safety and alignment you are trying to build.

If this was a one-time lapse in judgment driven by temporary frustration, they must publicly own the mistake and apologize to the leadership team, and you must see an immediate change in behavior. However, if this reflects a deeper cynicism or a lack of belief in the V/TO®, they must be removed from the team.

No matter how talented they are, an executive who does not believe in the company's direction will eventually pull the entire ship down. Protect your culture and your leadership team's alignment over any single person's technical output.