Chapter 9: Training, Team Growth & Firing Fast

The `Fire Fast` Rule – Removing Toxicity Quickly

The “Fire Fast” Rule – Removing Toxicity Quickly

No matter how strong your hiring process is, at some point, you’ll make a bad hire. The worst thing you can do is keep a toxic employee too long.

Why You Must Fire Fast:

• Toxic employees poison office culture and lower morale.
• Negative attitudes drive away good employees and make the work environment miserable.
• Bad hires damage patient experience, leading to fewer referrals and negative reviews.

Signs It’s Time to Let Someone Go:

• They consistently cause drama or create a negative work environment.
• They resist feedback and refuse to improve.
• They bring down team morale instead of lifting others up.
• Patients complain about their attitude or service.
• They are unreliable, dishonest, or consistently underperforming.

How to Fire Fast & Professionally:

• Have Clear Documentation – Track performance issues and discussions in case HR issues arise.
• Be Direct but Respectful – A quick, professional conversation is better than dragging out an uncomfortable situation.
• Don’t Delay – The longer you wait, the more damage they can do to your team and patient experience.

Firing is never easy, but keeping the wrong person is always worse. A single toxic employee can undo years of hard work, so act quickly when necessary.