Someone once said to me, “When is the best time to fire someone?” And the answer was “The first time you think about it.”
Firing an employee is one of a manager’s least favorite things to do. People feel bad or can be emotionally connected, and letting someone go is never easy. Even experienced managers and HR professionals can have a hard time with these conversations. As difficult as terminating a member of your staff can be, sometimes it’s necessary and the goal needs to be to turn it into a positive.
“The first time you think about it.”
Do not fire someone because you had a tiff or you’re frustrated with them, but the first time you start to go down that path of “should you keep this person here?” or “are they a good fit?” you need to consider whether or not it’s time to part ways. You need to trust your instincts, analyze and assess the situation, and then take action.
“Turn it into a positive.”
Saying goodbye to an employee doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Typically, parting ways is the best thing for both parties. We aim to create “Happy Turnover,” where we coach someone into a new job and help them find new employment. Creating a lasting impression of your company can pay off in the future, and is the right thing to do, when possible. An employee mismatch at your company could be a slam dunk for another business.
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