As humans, we are often indecisive when it comes to dealing with embarrassing and intractable things.In these moments, our thought process goes from strategy Enter survival mode. But just because something is hard, doesn’t mean there isn’t a right way to do it.
For example, many of us have difficulty talking to friends about their disturbing behavior. Even if you observe this behavior for a long time, it’s hard for you to come up with a way to discuss it without destroying the friendship.
So you either keep silent about it and hide it until it explodes in the worst possible way. Without strategy and empathy, your intervention can quickly turn into confrontation. And those rarely end well.
Most of us have had this experience too are in love Be with someone but decide it’s time to end things. A simple, candid and compassionate conversation will do the trick. But the more likely result is a series of sloppy interactions that you want to convey your intent, even if you don’t articulate it eloquently.
The same phenomenon often occurs be a manager An employee needs to be fired. Getting team members to leave is undoubtedly difficult. In fact, it’s one of the worst things you have to do in the business world.
But that’s why you need to spend time and effort preparing. There is an inverse relationship between the difficulty of a task and the amount of thought you need to put into it.happiness tasks such as Take the staff out for lunch, does not require much planning. Firing, on the other hand, should be done with the same care a chef does when making a soufflé.
When done right, firing (fire, fire, fire) an employee can be an unfortunate episode in the company’s entire journey. But if you screw up the process, it has the potential to wreak havoc on everyone involved.
Like it or not, you will be defined in part by the way you handle employee dismissals. They actually become part of your company culture.as Mary Kate Miller explain:
Company culture is defined as a shared set of values, goals, practices, and attitudes fostered by a business. Company culture is often set by leadership, and organizational founders play a key role in how people feel about the company, the work they do, and how they think the business is going. Every organization has its own company culture—whether you cultivate it intentionally or not. Consciously building an organizational culture can be the difference between a strong, healthy company culture and a toxic one. So let’s deal with it consciously.
How do you avoid perceptions of toxic culture? The first is how you handle potentially harmful situations, such as firing employees.
How to Fire Someone Without Burning Them
Every employee is unique, and it’s impossible to have an exact plan for them to leave. The best way to do this is to develop consistent termination guidelines and then adapt them to your specific situation. Doing this shows the thoughtful way you handle it and ensures the best possible outcome.
Incompetent leaders, on the other hand, look for a drawer full of cookie-cutter that they can use in the situation. They will say, the more you drive, the better. But these boilerplate interactions made employees past and present feel as if they were just nameless ingredients in a generic recipe book.
To bring maximum personalization and empathy to the process of firing an employee, use these steps as you navigate through a custom course. They’ll help you avoid pitfalls, while also allowing room for breathing to make the process feel real.
have a plan
No employee should be fired on a whim. You should first review your company’s termination policy and make sure you understand these procedures. Possible decisions at this point include:
- Will they be allowed to go back to their desk after your meeting?
- Will their access to company systems be terminated after the meeting?
- Will you provide severance pay?
- Will you provide letters of recommendation?
The answer to the first 2 questions may be “no”, while the answer to the last 2 questions may be “yes”. Either way, your plan should anticipate anything that may come up in your discussions with your employees.
The final details to prepare ahead of time include what company property they need to return, their job end date and what to do with their final paycheck.
tell them personally
It’s understandable if you’re apprehensive about your conversations, but you should never send such sensitive and volatile information via email, messenger, or phone. Here are some reasons why you should have the conversation in person:
- It shows respect for employees and helps them maintain their dignity
- It allows them to observe your body language and feel your empathy
- Make communication clearer and avoid misunderstandings
- It creates an environment where they will feel more comfortable asking questions
Choose a private location where other employees can’t see what’s going on. Being fired is a painful experience that requires psychological processing, so employees should avoid being interrupted.
seize the moment
Your goal should be to minimize surprises and inconveniences. When an employee is fired for a performance issue, you should have conducted a series of performance reviews with them so that they understand the problem and have an opportunity to improve. Likewise, any workplace violations should be documented. Taking this proactive approach gives them an honest chance to keep their jobs, while also giving you a way to prepare them for being fired.
On the topic of timing, never fire someone on a Friday. The same goes for the day before the holiday. You’ll want employees to have access to counseling, professional services, and other resources that are closed on weekends or holidays. The last thing you want is for them to be stuck at home, frustrated with what happened.
have the right people present
It’s important to strike the right balance with the attendees. If there is a crowd, employees may feel intimidated. But you must have witnesses present as it can help eliminate potential legal issues.
The most common arrangement is for the employee’s immediate manager to lead the conversation. They have relationships with employees and can tailor information to how they communicate.
Witnesses are usually from human resources. Their role is to take notes or record meetings, provide support and answer any questions the manager may not be able to answer. Always make it clear to employees that you are taking notes or recording a meeting. When you have such an experienced professional in the room, your legal liability is greatly reduced.
You may also want to include security to escort the person to the door after the meeting. This is desirable when you expect erratic responses in the conversation.
keep it simple and direct
This is not the time for lengthy discussions or impromptu talking points. If you’ve gotten to this point, employees should have plenty of opportunities to correct their performance. You need to communicate your message as clearly and as sleekly as possible. It’s worth having an example of performance issues at hand if needed, but it’s best to avoid getting into details and sparking arguments.
Be prepared for the following questions:
- When is the last paycheck due?
- How to process payments for unused PTO
- the lifespan of their health insurance
- if they are eligible for unemployment.
If you don’t have the answers to these questions, make sure the HR representative in the meeting can handle them.
Follow up with your team
Once the dust has settled on your conversation with the employee, your office will have another important conversation. Gather the rest of the team and let them know what’s going on. Avoid detailing why the employee was fired, as this should be kept confidential. In fact, your team will notice how you show respect for a former employee in moments like this. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but if done right, these candid but thoughtful conversations can boost morale after termination.
Continue to build your business
As a business leader, there will always be tough decisions to resolve along your path. It’s important to keep your positive momentum going.You can get expert guidance from our free courses. From finance to negotiation and marketing to goal setting, these courses provide a blueprint for excellence.
