Let me be clear: firing someone is never fun. It’s uncomfortable, emotional, and — for many leaders — completely draining. But as hard as it is, I’ve never once regretted letting a toxic or underperforming team member go. In fact, most of the time? I wish I’d done it sooner.

I read a quote recently that stuck with me:

“The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.”

Oof. That one hit hard — because it’s true. As leaders, what we allow (or ignore) becomes the standard. And holding onto someone who isn’t showing up in the right way doesn’t just weigh you down — it hurts your team, your patients, and your culture. So how do you know when enough is enough?

Here’s what I look for:

  • Unsolicited reports from the team
     If multiple team members are coming to you with concerns — especially specific, consistent ones — don’t dismiss it. Patterns matter. 
  • Negative impact on morale or patient experience
     If one person’s attitude or behavior is dragging down your culture or affecting how patients feel in your office, it’s no longer a “them” problem — it’s a you problem. 
  • No change after multiple conversations
     If you’ve had the talks, given the feedback, and set clear expectations — and they still don’t improve — it’s time to stop hoping and start acting. 
  • They’re not coachable — and they don’t want to be
     Some people just don’t want to grow. If you find yourself doing mental gymnastics to “make it work,” it probably isn’t. 
  • You’re spending more energy managing them than everyone else combined
     If one team member takes up 90% of your time, energy, and stress — that’s not sustainable. For you or your team. 

Letting someone go is hard. But your responsibility is to the team as a whole — not to the one person who’s choosing not to rise. When you let go of what’s not working, you make space for what can.

🤝 Want help navigating tough team conversations or setting up better accountability systems? The Practice Perfect Method™ gives you the tools and scripts to lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
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