The Performance Values Matrix

🔍 How Do You Decide Who Stays, Who Grows, and Who Goes?

In every team, there are people who bring results, and those who bring values. But as a leader, you need both.

The Performance Values Matrix breaks it down into four types of employees. Here’s how to manage each one:



1️⃣ **Competent As*holes**
These people hit their targets but hurt team morale.
Action: Address the behavior with discipline—or consider letting them go if they resist change.
Why: Toxicity, even with results, damages team culture.

2️⃣ Competent Nice Guys
High performers who also support a positive culture.
Action: Retain and promote—they’re your future leaders.
Why: They embody the best of both worlds: results and values.

3️⃣ **Incompetent As*holes**
Low performers who also hurt the team’s spirit.
Action: Fire fast. Keeping them drags the team down.
Why: When performance and values are both lacking, the impact is destructive.

4️⃣ Incompetent Nice Guys
They may struggle with performance but align with your values.
Action: Train and support. With development, they could improve.
Why: They contribute to a positive culture and have potential to grow.


💡 The takeaway? High performance is essential, but values are what truly shape a team. As Netflix says, "Company values are shown by who gets rewarded, promoted, or let go."