“At-will employment” is nothing but insurance for lazy employers. Lazy hiring, lazy performance management.

Don’t be lazy. Mauri mahi, mauri ora. Do the mahi, get the treats.

[Addendum: to a first approximation, *everyone* fucks up their first performance management conversation. It’s extremely hard to do well, but having now been through multiple positive and negative outcomes I can say it’s infinitely better than “you’re fired”]

There’s not much more humbling and educational than seeing someone excel after a performance conversation. Realising your judgment was wrong and all that was needed was a little clarity and support.

Real “am I the asshole?” stuff for sure.