November 28, 2025
Business wisdom is often distilled into catchy phrases. For example, a common one, “hire slow, fire fast” is one of the most repeated. But what happens when these truisms, once useful, start to hinder progress?
The Allure and Danger of Taking Truisms Literally
Many leaders have experienced the positive outcomes of a thoughtful, deliberate hiring process. Taking the time to find the “right” person often feels responsible, risk-averse, and justified by past success. The “fire fast” half of the saying encourages decisive action when things aren’t working. However, caution can morph into paralysis. While a rigorous process is good, agonizing indecision and slowing a critical hire can backfire.
Overly slow hiring risks losing top candidates, inflating costs, and stalling business growth due to vacant roles and team fatigue.
When “Hire Slow” Becomes “Hire Never” or “Hire too late”
I work with clients who’ve embraced “hire slow, fire fast” with religious devotion. It served them well, but sometimes slows decisions to a crawl. Roles stay open as the process seeks perfection, while day-to-day business needs go unmet.
Instead, I encourage shifting the focus: “hire well, fire fast.” The goal isn’t speed or slowness but quality and clarity. Collaborate to build an excellent, efficient process and trust it to surface the right candidate and not wait endlessly for certainty.
Breaking the “Rules” When Circumstances Demand
Business is dynamic, and so should our thinking be. There’s wisdom in knowing when to break established rules. A truism that helped yesterday might constrain innovation or responsiveness today. Research and modern leadership voices encourage leaders to adapt “rules” to real context, challenge their underlying assumptions, and take action when opportunity or necessity demands.
When organizational needs shift, so must decision-making habits.
Lead with Principle, Not Phrases
Effective leadership means recognizing when old wisdom no longer serves present needs. It’s about hiring well. Building objective, fair and efficient ways to select strong candidates, then not hesitating to act if a hire is not a mutual fit. The best leaders stay curious, trust their training and intuition, and make smart exceptions when needed.
Sometimes, the new business truism should be: “Know the rules so you know when to break them.”
In all that we do, let us seek wisdom, discipline, courage & justice.
Be well,
Keita
