Don't let symmetry hold you back: Why you should hire the best

Founders often justify, “We can’t exceed our current team’s salaries.” But sometimes, the cost of staying symmetrical… is staying stuck. I’ve seen this happen often: You lose out on someone who could’ve taken weight off your shoulders and pressure off your team. Maybe they’d have brought stability to a stretched function. Maybe they’d have set a new bar for ownership. Maybe they’d have been the reason your best people stayed. But instead of asking what this hire could unlock, you hesitated over what they’d misalign. Your team notices when you prioritize parity over progress. You thought holding the line would preserve fairness. But fairness isn’t always about keeping everyone at the same level. Sometimes, stretching for the right person sends a different kind of signal: That this org recognizes value. That excellence is actually rewarded. And the right people on your team? They don’t feel threatened by that. They feel challenged. They feel inspired. Because if your best talent sees that progress is possible they’ll move toward it. Staying rigid with comp might protect the present. But hiring is a future-facing decision. You’re not breaking fairness by stretching for someone exceptional. You’re signaling that value is recognized. And sometimes, the fairest thing you can do… is bet on the one who raises the bar. I'm Sankalp, and at Crossing Hurdles, we build teams that thrive. 🔗DM to hire talent that evolves with you. #Leadership #CompStructure #Salaries #Layoffs #Ownership #Initiative #Career #SankalpChhabra #CrossingHurdles