Noida CEO Fires Senior Employee For Asking Him, 'Sir, Tell Me What To Do Next?'

A candid workplace anecdote shared by the Noida-based founder and CEO of InstaAstro, Nitin Verma, has sparked a debate online about leadership, initiative, and what it truly means to take ownership in senior roles. The entrepreneur recounted an incident where he let go of a senior employee after a seemingly simple question triggered a deeper concern about accountability.“I fired someone because he asked me, ‘Sir tell me what to do next.’ A senior hire. Someone I brought in specifically because I didn't want to think for that function anymore,” the founder and CEO of InstaAstro said on LinkedIn.According to Verma, the role had been created to reduce his own involvement in that particular function, but the interaction made him question whether

the hire was truly operating with independence. He described how there were no issues of micromanagement or excessive oversight, yet the employee still sought direction instead of taking initiative.“He said, ‘Sir you know better.’ I asked, ‘Why did I hire you then?’” Verma recalled, adding that the conversation ended in “silence”.Reflecting on the experience, Verma said it shifted his perspective on workplace responsibility, especially at senior levels. He argued that ownership is not something that can simply be assigned or taught.“Here's what I have learned about ownership: You cannot give it to someone. Either they walk in with it. Or they never find it,” he said.He further added that excessive reliance on instructions can undermine productivity rather than improve it. “Freedom without ownership is just confusion,” he said.Verma also stressed that senior roles require independent thinking and decision-making rather than constant guidance. “If you're a senior professional reading this, Your job is to walk in every morning and ask yourself, What needs to be done? That's what seniority actually means,” he said.

The post, shared on LinkedIn a day ago, received mixed reactions. While some users supported his viewpoint on leadership and initiative, others criticised the approach, suggesting that alignment and clarification are often necessary for new senior hires.“But sometimes a new hire just wants to align with your vision before making a massive strategic call,” one LinkedIn user suggested.Responding to such criticism, Verma maintained his stance, distinguishing between seeking clarity and dependency.“But there is a difference between alignment and dependency. A senior professional asking for clarity once is normal.A senior professional needing constant direction is dangerous. I am not hiring hands. I am hiring judgment.” he said.The discussion continued in the comments, with users sharing their own workplace experiences and questioning how such expectations are evaluated during hiring processes.