---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Firing someone who is investigating you…"
description: "\"Firing someone who is investigating you is a counterproductive strategy.\" — Stephen Farnsworth"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg"
---

#  Firing someone who is investigating you is a…

![“Firing someone who is investigating you is a counterproductive strategy.” quote by Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg)

> “Firing someone who is investigating you is a counterproductive strategy.”

[Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Firing an investigator creates conflict of interest and undermines credibility.

**In simple terms:** Firing investigators is counterproductive.

Key Takeaway

Avoid retaliatory actions.

Themes

ethics leadership investigation

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

advice professional

When to use this quote

- HR policy
- legal compliance
- whistleblower protection

Key Concepts

conflict of interest organizational integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you protect investigations?
- What policies prevent retaliation?

A Different Perspective

May damage morale and trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/)

## Related quotes

> [Management don't really have any problem at all with firing people. It's a powerful idea that, If I'm not happy, I'll quit. I'll try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/management-don-t-really-have-any-problem-at-all-with-firing-people-it/)

[Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/)

> [Nobody ever was fired for 9/11. Instead of firing the people who didn't do a good job, we gave them medals. The guy who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/nobody-ever-was-fired-for-9-11-instead-of-firing-the-people-who-didn/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [“I'm OK with firing people when they fuck up, but canning them when they've done nothing wrong - that's painful. \[on the layoffs needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-m-ok-with-firing-people-when-they-fuck-up-but-canning-them-when/)

[Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/)

> [Firing employees, that's unfortunately a part of doing business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/firing-employees-that-s-unfortunately-a-part-of-doing-business/)

[Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/)

> [I've taken people and fired them over a period of a year. I've fired them over a period of a month. I've fired them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ve-taken-people-and-fired-them-over-a-period-of-a-year-i-ve-fired/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In real life, if I were firing you, I'd tell you what a great job you did, how fantastic you are, and how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-real-life-if-i-were-firing-you-i-d-tell-you-what-a-great-job-you/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Firing people is one of the worst parts of running a company. Actually in my own experience, I think it is the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/firing-people-is-one-of-the-worst-parts-of-running-a-company-actually/)

[Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/)

> [For a hot-shot CEO taking over a troubled company, mass firings are the ultimate quick fix, the accounting equivalent of crack: cheap, easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/for-a-hot-shot-ceo-taking-over-a-troubled-company-mass-firings-are/)

[Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/)

> [FBI directors serve at the pleasure of the president, but they often have terms that transcend partisan transfers of power at the White House.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/fbi-directors-serve-at-the-pleasure-of-the-president-but-they-often/)

[Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

> [We are born for synergy, just like the feet, just like the hands, just like the eyes, just like the rows of upper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-born-for-synergy-just-like-the-feet-just-like-the-hands-just/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [Everything that the administration has done has been counterproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/everything-that-the-administration-has-done-has-been-counterproductive/)

[Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/)

> [It's a terrible and tragic and counterproductive policy to avoid communicating with people who disagree with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/it-s-a-terrible-and-tragic-and-counterproductive-policy-to-avoid/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [It's counterproductive. The problem with sentimentality is that it kills the emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-dardenne/it-s-counterproductive-the-problem-with-sentimentality-is-that-it/)

Jean-Pierre Dardenne

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

## More by Stephen Farnsworth

> [FBI directors serve at the pleasure of the president, but they often have terms that transcend partisan transfers of power at the White House.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/fbi-directors-serve-at-the-pleasure-of-the-president-but-they-often/)

[Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

> [Presidents are given immense power in the American political system when it comes to personnel. FBI directors are given ten-year terms to insulate them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/presidents-are-given-immense-power-in-the-american-political-system/)

[Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

> [It's generally not wise to pick a fight with law enforcement in politics, especially when you're in the middle of a pretty significant scandal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/it-s-generally-not-wise-to-pick-a-fight-with-law-enforcement-in/)

[Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

> [The one thing you never want to do in politics is take the hit for someone else's misconduct - especially someone as erratic as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/the-one-thing-you-never-want-to-do-in-politics-is-take-the-hit-for/)

[Stephen Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

[Explore all 5 Stephen Farnsworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/)

## More Counterproductive quotes

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It's counterproductive. The problem with sentimentality is that it kills the emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-dardenne/it-s-counterproductive-the-problem-with-sentimentality-is-that-it/)

Jean-Pierre Dardenne

> [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [It's a terrible and tragic and counterproductive policy to avoid communicating with people who disagree with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/it-s-a-terrible-and-tragic-and-counterproductive-policy-to-avoid/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Everything that the administration has done has been counterproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/everything-that-the-administration-has-done-has-been-counterproductive/)

[Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/)

> [We are born for synergy, just like the feet, just like the hands, just like the eyes, just like the rows of upper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-born-for-synergy-just-like-the-feet-just-like-the-hands-just/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [I would need to see changes in the Iraq governance. Otherwise I don't think strikes are going to have any impact and could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/i-would-need-to-see-changes-in-the-iraq-governance-otherwise-i-don-t/)

[Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/)

> [“Regret is counterproductive. It's looking back on a past that you can't change. Questioning things as they occur can prevent regret in the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/regret-is-counterproductive-it-s-looking-back-on-a-past-that-you-can/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

> [I spent so much of my life being counterproductive to society that to be in a place where I'm able to help people has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jelly-roll/i-spent-so-much-of-my-life-being-counterproductive-to-society-that-to/)

[Jelly Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jelly-roll/)

> [Tackling the environment should not be a licence to lecture people, because they have no excuse not to exercise, or eat their fruit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lansley/tackling-the-environment-should-not-be-a-licence-to-lecture-people/)

[Andrew Lansley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lansley/)

> [I want to compliment the fraternity and sorority organizations for taking the time to meet with us and then removing their support from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-want-to-compliment-the-fraternity-and-sorority-organizations-for/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [Dwelling too much on the past, other than to learn specific things is counterproductive for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-condit/dwelling-too-much-on-the-past-other-than-to-learn-specific-things-is/)

[Carlos Condit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-condit/)

> [What I do know is that drones are a modern weapon. When used effectively, when taking out ISIS or terrorist leaders, that's pretty impressive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-i-do-know-is-that-drones-are-a-modern-weapon-when-used/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I'm not going to shoot seven days a week. I think it's counterproductive. I think you're going to have people stumbling around after a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-m-not-going-to-shoot-seven-days-a-week-i-think-it-s/)

[Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/)

> [We've observed that people who stall in their personal growth work often have counterproductive soft addictions that stand in their way of growth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-wright/we-ve-observed-that-people-who-stall-in-their-personal-growth-work/)

[Judith Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-wright/)

Browse all 118 Counterproductive quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Firing someone who is investigating you is a counterproductive strategy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Farnsworth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you-is-a-counterproductive/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Counterproductive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you-is-a-counterproductive/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/stephen-farnsworth-58819_strategy_firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you_1294130.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Firing someone who is investigating you is a counterproductive strategy.” — Stephen Farnsworth",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephen Farnsworth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farnsworth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Firing someone who is investigating you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you-is-a-counterproductive/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farnsworth/firing-someone-who-is-investigating-you-is-a-counterproductive/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
