There are two kinds of employees that stand out. The ones who are at the top of their game and are incredible assets to the organization and the ones who suck the life out of every customer, every co-worker, every staff person and every boss in the place.

Upon closer inspection, the beautiful burgundy tree turned out to be a vine growing up the trunk of the tree. While pretty, even stunning, they actually suck the life out of the tree. Arborists warn us to pull them down and dig the root out. If you don’t they just keep growing back and the longer you leave them in the tree the more damage they do to the tree.

So, we obviously want the top of their game-stand-out employee but what of the one that stands out because they suck the life out of everything? Should we do as the arborists caution us to do - at the very least pull them down or to be safe, dig them out?

If you dig them out - how do you do it? If you pull them down but allow them to grow back - what do you do so they won’t be so dangerous?