tap aside

[unpakwon]

What does "tap aside" mean in the following?

On the notion of surrounding oneself with genius, Dan Pink explains, "You have to take some risks, and you have to be intentional... you have to be willing, as brutal as it sounds, to sort of tap aside the people who don't fit the bill.

Thank you.

[waflob]

Here, "tap" means gently hit, so people who don't fit in will be forcably removed. The speaker is trying to play down the amount of force required.

[Tdol]

I don't think that physical force is necessary- you remove the people who get in your way and don't meet requirements, but that doesn't have to involve physical force. You may have to be firm, but it doesn't mean you need to hit them.

[waflob]

Yes, my reply should have had the word 'metaphorical' in there somewhere.

[unpakwon]

I get it.

Thank you all for the help.