When good isn’t good enough

So, you’ve got someone on your team who, at first glance, seems like an asset. They’re good at their job, and they make you think, “This person is a rockstar!” But over time, something feels off. Tension builds in the room when they’re around. Issues bubble up that never existed before. Dramatics begin. They even steal the energy out of a room without being present.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the harsh truth: Even people who add value can poison the culture of your business, brand and vision.

Why? Because it’s not just about what someone does. It’s about who they are.

If you’re building a culture, you need to understand that a single toxic person, no matter how talented, can outweigh the positive impact of ten good people.

Like a cavity before a suddenly needed root canal, the signs are subtle, until they are not. They bring drama instead of solutions.

Good team members solve problems; toxic ones create them. They make excuses instead of taking responsibility.

Mistakes happen, but what comes next? Do they own it and grow? Accountability is the foundation, and these people are like hungry termites chomping your business down.

Their presence changes the energy.

Do you ever notice how the energy shifts when someone walks into the room? They are like the Ghostbusters trap of good vibes and just suck all the energy away, even when they’re not around.

They will fire themselves.

Now, let me tell you something counterintuitive. Again, kudos to my old man: Toxic people often weed themselves out. You don’t need to call them out immediately or force a dramatic exit.

Instead, create an environment of high standards and accountability and watch what happens. Vampire, meet sun.

Define what success looks like, not just in performance but in attitude and behavior. Share your values clearly and frequently. Toxic people thrive in ambiguity. When you make expectations crystal clear, they’ll either rise to meet them or expose themselves as unfit.

Do not try to save them.

This is where most leaders mess up. They think, “If I just coach them harder, they’ll change.” Let me save you the trouble. You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change. And if their behavior doesn’t align with your values, no amount of coaching will fix it.

The craziest part? You need these moments to happen, and they are going to. With the right core values in place, it will help you keep your compass pointed in the right direction.

When someone doesn’t belong, they’ll eventually show you. The only question is, will you listen?

You are the builder of your team, your culture and your business. Make it built with intention. Built with enough room to let the greats on your team grow and thrive. Built on solid values. Built with huge vision. Built for the entire community. Built on serving with gratitude. Built on a marvelous mission.

Make it built with integrity.

Ryan Chowansky is the owner of Bluffton Builders, LLC, www.bluffton.builders.