Removing from my budding startup team a highly motivated guy, bright, experienced in big companies... without damaging his ego AND without lying AND while being clear. If I can re-orient everyone I need to, as well as this guy until the end, I'd be so proud and happy! And I won't ever make enemies that way.
That was a very charged conversation emotionally, I was vulnerable and highly respectful, but still decisive and honest.
I refrained from exposing the case I had 'against' him to make the decision to move him from a potential cofounder role to an external advisory role. Instead, once decision was made, I committed for this to be as good as possible for everyone. I started bravely with the clear news, pointing out it had been my mistake to bring him on at that point.
I had taken serious time imagining his viewpoint. I talked about all the good he had brought to the project, for real, and all the good I valued about him, for real, and asked him to be an advisor (yes, he's been of value in that role, despite the hurt feelings).
Oh, and I gave birth to my daughter in silence all by myself on the couch. That was pretty intense too. While living in a squat, I also unfolded a dead guy starting to harden, to make sure we could later lay him down in a coffin. Life is full of strange adventures, I guess!
What articles are/were hugely impactful for you?
On a given subject, what is the 'if you only read one' reference for you? Be it a video/real book/curated Twitter feed, whatever your medium. Thanks a lot for sharing!
You're certainly showing us what the original Jessica Livingston @YC rule means : no asshole, thank you for being a generous you ! Let's make this shine and inspire more YC alumni to become Advisors for this #epicbatch @startupschool
Annie Belis, brilliant researcher from France's most selective post doct was already doing this with her ensemble Kerylos in 1990. The site is in French though but the songs in Ancient Greek http://www.kerylos.fr/index.php
And here is a chorus, easier for our ears I guess http://youtu.be/R_KmlIX3aHc
That was a very charged conversation emotionally, I was vulnerable and highly respectful, but still decisive and honest.
I refrained from exposing the case I had 'against' him to make the decision to move him from a potential cofounder role to an external advisory role. Instead, once decision was made, I committed for this to be as good as possible for everyone. I started bravely with the clear news, pointing out it had been my mistake to bring him on at that point.
I had taken serious time imagining his viewpoint. I talked about all the good he had brought to the project, for real, and all the good I valued about him, for real, and asked him to be an advisor (yes, he's been of value in that role, despite the hurt feelings).