When a hire doesn’t work out, the first question is usually: What went wrong with the person?
That’s the wrong place to start.
A better question is: Did we actually set this role up for success?
Was the scope clearly defined or still evolving?
Were expectations aligned across leadership?
Was there a real onboarding plan, or just hope they’d figure it out?
Did the systems and structure support the role or slow it down?
Too often, we evaluate the individual without ever evaluating the environment they’re stepping into.
“Fit” isn’t just about the person.
It’s about the conditions you’ve created for them to succeed.
If those conditions aren’t right, even the best hire will struggle.