‘Oops, I hired a wrong person!’ We all have that moment sometime or the other in our career. As a VC, it may also extend to investing in the wrong company. I feel responsible when I make a wrong hiring decision – for the employee as well as for the organization. I have come to realize that direct acknowledgment is the first step towards taking corrective actions. The next is salvaging the situation. Is the person - Competent? Motivated? And a good culture fit? What is the gap? I am usually willing to have a direct and honest discussion about my concerns. Sometimes they receive it poorly. Other times they may shed light on why they are struggling, that might point to a mutual solution. Generally, if they are not a culture fit, it is hard to fix. I typically want to resolve that quickly. If they are not motivated, it is important to understand what is holding back that might be helpful. In the case of incompetence, can they do a different role or learn on the job? If a person is highly motivated, I am willing to give more opportunities to see if I can help them succeed. …see more