The Noida-based CEO says he fired a senior employee for asking what to do next; internet questions his leadership style | Today’s news
The founder and CEO of Noida-based InstaAstro revealed that he once fired a senior employee after the person asked him, “Sir, tell me what to do next. Nitin Verma said the incident completely changed his perspective on leadership, responsibility and ownership in the workplace.”
“I hired him so I wouldn’t have to think about the position.
In a LinkedIn post that sparked an online debate, Verma said the employee was hired specifically to independently manage a specific business function.
“I fired someone because he asked me, ‘Lord, tell me what to do next.’ Senior rental. Someone I specifically brought in because I didn’t want to think about that function anymore,” he wrote.
Explaining why the question frustrated him, Verma said there was no micromanagement in the organization. According to him, the employee had complete autonomy, without constant monitoring or approval barriers.
However, when an employee approached him and asked what should be done next, Verma interpreted it as a lack of initiative and ownership.
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“Then why did I hire you?”
Verma recalled how he responded by asking the employee what he personally thought should be done.
“He said, ‘Sir, you know better.’ I asked, ‘Then why did I hire you?'” Verma wrote, adding that the exchange ended “in silence.”
The businessman said the episode reinforced his belief that ownership is an inherent quality rather than something managers can instill through authority or freedom.
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“Here’s what I’ve learned about ownership: You can’t give it to somebody. They’re either going to walk in with it. Or they’re never going to find it,” he said.
He further argued that freedom at work without personal initiative often leads to confusion instead of meaningful results.
“Freedom without ownership is just confusion,” he added.
The CEO’s comments are drawing mixed reactions online
Verma also stated that he could not “build a company on people who need to be told what to think”.
Addressing senior professionals directly, he wrote, “If you’re reading this as a senior professional, your job is to go in every morning and ask yourself: What needs to be done? This is what seniority really means.”
The post received mixed reactions on LinkedIn, with several users questioning his approach to leadership.
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“But sometimes a new hire just wants to align with your vision before making a massive strategic challenge,” noted one user.
Defending his position, Verma responded, “I see what you’re saying. But there’s a difference between relevance and dependency. A senior practitioner who asks for clarity once is normal. A senior practitioner who needs constant guidance is dangerous. I’m not hiring hands. I’m hiring judgment.”
Another LinkedIn user shared a personal lesson early in his career, writing, “My first boss told me to never bring a problem to him without first bringing three solutions. This advice changed my entire career.”
