I’ve been reading through the book of Proverbs lately, and one verse really stood out: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” — Proverbs 13:20. When you were younger, someone—a parent, mentor, or teacher—probably told you, “You become like those you spend time with.”
Or maybe you heard the saying, “You can’t soar with eagles if you’re surrounded by turkeys.”
The message is simple but powerful: if you want to grow and be better, you need to be around people who set a good example. This holds true whether you’re a business owner, manager, spouse, or parent.
But there’s a twist I missed for years.
In any organization, the strength of the team can only rise as high as its weakest member. This can be a tough realization because it means that one person’s limitations can affect everyone’s potential. A team member who doesn’t share the same drive or capacity can hold back not only themselves but also every other person on the team—and the organization as a whole.
So, what do you do with that?
You have two choices: either you accept the situation as it is, which means everyone else on the team also has to accept it, or you take action to address it. Addressing it might mean investing in training and support for that person. But sometimes, it means letting them go. If they aren’t willing to improve or simply lack the capacity, it’s better to make the call quickly. It’s a hard decision, but in the end, everyone benefits from a team that moves forward together.