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@Justicar @DoubleD
Managing in a corporate SME these days is an absolute nightmare. Startups are easier places to deal with since the culture is usually obvious and clearly set by the CEO/CTO etc..
SME's today on the other hand are rife with HR, DEI policies, mixed teams etc.. so it's vital to get a clear handle on the company culture before you step on any landmines.
Assuming you've figured that out, and as long as you're doing the hiring/firing you can be as generous as you want.
@Justicar @DoubleD
In exchange for high expectations I tend to give people all the space, training and support they need.
They know I will shield them from upstream shit and arrange mentorship for those who need it, but in return they deliver to their best ability.
They've seen me fire people before and I only hire people I believe in. When all that has sunk in, it's pretty smooth sailing. Typically, personal interactions just naturally fall into senior/junior mode thereafter.