New Hire Mismatch- What to Do When New Employee is Not the Right Fit?

Last year, we welcomed a new puppy into our family, anticipating joy and companionship. However, despite our efforts in training, she didn't get along with our older dog. Similarly, have you ever hired someone who seemed perfect but didn't fit the role? What can you do?

1. Clarify expectations. Be sure to spell out the role and responsibilities again. Ask the person to articulate them to ensure they understand. In Rio’s case, we set clear boundaries on behavior with our other dog.

2. Invest in training, providing tools, skills, and possibly pairing them with a mentor to aid learning. For Rio, we hired a professional trainer to work with her.

3. Document efforts, lack of progress, and conversations had, while setting clear timelines and consequences.

4. Explore other roles within the company that might be a better fit based on their skills and needs.

5. Act promptly if the situation doesn't improve, as prolonged issues can negatively impact the employee, other team members, and the organization. Rio was terrorizing our sweet dog, the family was stressed out, and poor Rio was spending far too much time in a crate.

We carefully considered what to do. A friend of ours had lost a dog a year ago. We know he is a great dog dad, he works from home, and has a large yard and no other animals. We drove her to live with him a couple states away and both are thriving. She is growing, learning, and providing love and laughter. He is happy to have a companion with the added health bonus of daily walks. Our pup is safe and happy. We went camping with them both this week and it feels so great to witness how it turned out.

In our case, we found a better home for our puppy, where she thrives. Similarly, if a hire isn't working out, consider alternative opportunities for success, whether within or outside your organization.