The fifth hire changed the job of the first four

Add a fifth person to a team of four and capacity rarely rises by a quarter. The reason usually isn't the fifth person.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The fifth hire changed the job of the first four

A firm with four delivery people hires a fifth. Headcount rises by a quarter. Three months later, output is up by something closer to a tenth, and the founder is quietly wondering whether the new hire was a mistake. The interview process gets reviewed. The onboarding gets blamed. Nobody examines the four people who were already there: which is where the missing capacity actually went. This is one of the most reliably misdiagnosed problems in a growing business, because the arithmetic of headcount is linear and the arithmetic of coordination…

Keep reading for free

Create an account to read the rest.

The whole library is free. No card, no subscription, no trial that quietly ends. An account simply lets us know who we are writing for, and opens every article from here on.

  • Every article, in full, at no cost
  • New articles published every weekday
  • Takes about twenty seconds
Create a free account I already have one

Free means free. We will not charge you for the library, and you can read as much of it as you like.

Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

More on Operations

Scroll to Top