Multiplication By Subtraction explores the positive impacts of saying goodbye to wrong-fit team members who are no longer thriving in your organization. Wrong-fit people can negatively impact our productivity, results, teamwork, and reputation—and end up costing far more than we realize.

This handbook will give you the mindset to think more strategically about your team, the tools to use when things aren’t working, practical strategies to help shift people into roles for which they’re a better fit, and, if that’s not possible, a clear process for letting them go.

Multiplication by subtraction is a strategy for growth. Gardeners often prune dead or dying sections off plants to allow the healthier parts to thrive rather than struggling to support the dead weight. When you decide to “let go to grow,” you’ll find that everyone is relieved and had wondered why you didn’t take action sooner. You’ll realize that not only were the results the wrong-fit team members were producing exaggerated, but that your team is more creative without them.

If we hang onto relationships that are just okay, we’re siding with complacency. It’s only by pruning relationships that we can achieve the success we’re really striving for.

Multiplication by subtraction is a strategy for growth. Gardeners often prune dead or dying sections off plants to allow the healthier parts to thrive rather than struggling to support the dead weight. When you decide to “let go to grow,” you’ll find that everyone is relieved and had wondered why you didn’t take action sooner. You’ll realize that not only were the results the wrong-fit team members were producing exaggerated, but that your team is more creative without them.

If we hang onto relationships that are just okay, we’re siding with complacency. It’s only by pruning relationships that we can achieve the success we’re really striving for.