03/18/2025

Hire Slow, Fire Fast

Rethink workforce retention for associations

Workforce retention has long been a top concern for associations, yet many leaders focus on the wrong part of the equation. They pour resources into perks, engagement programs, and recognition efforts — only to find that their best people still leave while underperformers linger. What if the real secret to retention isn't about keeping people at all costs, but about hiring with intention and letting go with clarity?

Will Guidara, in Unreasonable Hospitality, lays out a principle that associations would do well to adopt: Hire slow, fire fast. It sounds counterintuitive in an era where organizations scramble to fill vacancies, but the reality is that rushed hiring and hesitant firing create the very turnover crises we seek to avoid.

Hire Slow: The Art of Selective Recruitment

In the rush to fill positions, associations often default to checking boxes: skills, experience and industry familiarity. But the best long-term hires aren't just qualified — they’re deeply aligned with your association’s mission, values and culture.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.