Most everyone has heard the saying, "If the shoe fits, wear it". Unfortunately, too many people have interpreted that to also mean that if it's a high quality shoe with a great brand name, they should keep wearing it regardless of the pain it's causing their feet. Day after day they force their poor swollen foot into another painful experience simply because they think it looks good on them, or they believe it's the right thing to do.

In business, we often take on new roles or new jobs that simply don't fit who we are or what we do best. Sure, we can all learn how to do new things, but we have to be honest here: a Clydesdale will never win the Kentucky Derby, and, as much as they'd love to make it work, Kevin Garnett (a power forward) will never be successful at point guard.

Coming from a "team perspective", the problem with each of these situations is that the person involved can't always recognize when things aren't working out. It often requires a manager to step in and help that person identify their strengths and weaknesses, and to point out the pain they are causing for the organization, not to mention their own life.

In these cases, a manager must put the best interest of the team ahead of anything and everything else. The success of the company comes first because if it doesn't, overall performance will lack and eventually so will profitability. This can be tough for a manager, especially if there is a relationship established that goes beyond the role of manager and team member. You could be very good friends.

As a manager, you can't keep trying to cram a painful situation into a system or or a responsibility that just doesn't fit. If day after day you suffer every time you see that person fail, then it's your job to give them the best possible chance to succeed, even if that means changing roles or moving on in order to do it.

Here's the good news: There are plenty of shoes out there to fit all different sizes of feet. Find the right shoes, or the right person to wear them, and everyone will be happier and more successful.

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