We have a leadership team member who perfectly embodies our Core Values, but they simply do not GWC their seat as we scale. How do we transition them out of the seat without destroying our company culture?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Having a leadership team member who perfectly aligns with your Core Values but does not GWC™ their seat is a classic Right Person, Wrong Seat dilemma. This is one of the hardest challenges an owner faces because you genuinely like the person, but keeping them in a seat they cannot perform in is holding the company back.

First, you must accept that you are doing them a disservice by leaving them in a seat where they are drowning. They know they are struggling, and the constant stress is likely damaging their confidence and health.

Use the Accountability Chart and the GWC test to have a direct, loving conversation. Walk through the five major roles of their seat and explain exactly where they lack the capacity to deliver as the company scales. Be specific and use data from their Scorecard.

Explore if there is another seat in the company where they can succeed. Since they are a perfect Core Values match, you want to keep them if possible, but only if they GWC a vacant seat that the company actually needs.

If no such seat exists, you must assist them in transitioning out of the company. Do it with dignity, respect, and generous transition support. This preserves your culture by proving that you live your Core Values while maintaining high performance standards.