????處在上面這些情況下，無論具體擔任什么職責，解雇一個人都不是件愉快的事，但對于初創企業的首席執行官來說，它可能更加痛苦，因為很多時候你解雇的人可能是你曾經花費數月時間才說服他們放棄一切、和你一起干的人。他們和你同甘共苦、患難與共。為了實現你的夢想，其中一些人曾經不知疲倦、辛苦工作。

????這時，你會意識到自己真的是一位首席執行官。你必須將一位朋友叫到一邊，向他們解釋，雖然他們的技能依然卓越突出，但已不再符合這一職位的要求?；蛘?，你打算從外面請人擔任他們的老板。又或者，你已經付不起錢來繼續留住他們。

????我們都是正派人士，總是希望能為每位雇員做到最好。如果有人情況不理想，我們總是希望“給他們找一個位置”，希望能夠永遠留住所有人。

????但我們有更重的責任，要考慮公司的其他眾多利益攸關方，什么對他們是最有利的，因為他們中很多人同樣投入了時間、才華或金錢，希望你盡己所能，不負所托，即便這個過程有時可能讓人非常難受。

????和一個人說“再見”永遠都不是件容易的事。但很多時候必須這樣做，這樣做也沒什么不對。在這樣的情況下，如實評估現實、支付一筆慷慨的遣散費對所有人都是件好事，包括你自己。

????馬克?蘭多夫（@mbrandolph）是一位資深的硅谷企業家、高科技行業管理人士兼初創企業顧問。近年來，Marc共同創立了互聯網影視流媒體服務網站Netflix，并出任第一任首席執行官。他的博客地址是http://www.marcrandolph.com/

????Firing someone in any of these circumstances is brutal regardless of your position, but for the start-up CEO it can be even more excruciating, because in many cases you are firing someone you spent months convincing to give it all up and set sail with you. Stand with you. Take a risk. And someone who worked tirelessly to help make your dream happen.

????That's when you know you're really a CEO. When you have to take aside a friend and explain that their skills, however formidable, are just no longer up to the requirements of the position. Or that you're bringing in someone from the outside to be their boss. Or that you simply can no longer afford to keep them around.

????As decent human beings we always want to do what's best for each and every one of our employees, and when someone's not working out, it's always tempting to "find a spot for them" so that we can keep everyone on board in perpetuity.

????But we have a deeper responsibility, which is to consider what's best for the many other stakeholders in this venture – many of whom took equivalent leaps of faith with their time, talent or money – and are expecting you to do everything in your power to bring them home safely, regardless of how unpleasant it may sometimes be.

????It's never easy to say goodbye to someone, but that doesn't mean it's not often the necessary and right thing to do. It's at times like this that an honest appraisal of the situation and a generous severance will be the best thing for everyone involved. You included.

????Marc Randolph (@mbrandolph) is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, high tech executive and startup consultant. Most recently Marc was co-founder of the online movie and television streaming service Netflix, serving as their first CEO. He blogs at http://www.marcrandolph.com/