by Beth | Apr 9, 2024 | Firing Employees
A friend of mine owns his own company, and about a year ago, he hired a not-so-great admin. He spent months working with her, training her, teaching her. She continually made mistakes. He lost money with his schedule not being full and then, billing became an issue. One day, he walked up to the front desk, and she was reading a book on her phone, with several things unfinished. Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back: he asked her to send an email. She said she did. He didn’t get it. She said it must not have gone through. He said no problem, just forward it to me. She of course had never sent it.
He greeted her at the door with her final check one morning, and she wasn’t even surprised.
He looked at me and said, “I’m an idiot. I should have fired her 4 months ago.”
First of all, he is not an idiot. He is a kind, generous, dedicated human being and a fantastic business owner. I really appreciate the way that he tried everything in his power to make it work.
And.
As the great Chris Rock says: “Relationships aren’t tough. They are tough when only one person is working on it. Two people can move a couch real easy. One person can’t move it at all.”
I am very pleased to report that my friend has a new admin who started last week, and 2 days in, my friend said this: “I really am a good trainer and teacher. I had forgotten that about myself.”
POWER THOUGHT: When your couch has to be moved, and it isn’t moving, it is time to move on.
by Beth | Dec 28, 2022 | Company Culture, Firing Employees
As we begin each New Year, many of us take the opportunity to re-group and redefine goals for our businesses. This time is often filled with renewed energy to get our lives and work in order. As a part of your New Year’s goals, it might also be time to fire that one employee that is not contributing to your company’s vision.
The impact of an unengaged employee on your business can be catastrophic. Decreased productivity, lowered company morale, and miserable working environments have been common complaints by my clients as they come to the decision to an part ways with an employee. I say start the New Year fresh!
A past client of mine had an employee who consistently gave her ultimatums. The threats were often “If you don’t do this, then I will quit.” Who wants to work with an individual who is constantly threatening you? The team was struggling to work with the individual, my client was unhappy with the performance of the individual, yet the concept of firing and replacing this person seemed daunting and ill-timed. When my client finally became fed up, they did indeed fire the employee. I won’t sugar coat the transition. It was hard, uncomfortable and came at a terrible time, but my client knew that this was the right decision for the company.
In addition, the busiest day of the year for applicants looking for a job is the second Tuesday in January. Think about this: the people who are fed up with their work environments are also looking to make a change. So, if you want to start the New Year with someone who REALLY wants to work for you, get going! Now is the time.
POWER THOUGHT: New Year, new goals, new awesome employee and new culture!
by Beth | Oct 19, 2022 | Company Culture
Currently, I am working with an organization to completely re-vamp two departments. They are the fastest growing business in the country in their industry according to Inc. magazine, and they have grown from just 15 employees to over 85 in roughly two years. I had a talk with the CEO/owner of the business, and I asked him what the turning point for his growth was.
“Bloody Thursday” he said, without missing a beat.
“That sounds ominous!” I exclaimed.
He explained it like this. One day, he woke up and realized that about half his staff were the wrong fit for their roles. He gathered his top performers, and he rallied the troops. He said that he was letting go of the people that weren’t pushing the company forward. Then, he developed the 5 company values: grit, live with grace, fear not, quality and excellence, and celebrate. He and his executive team don’t make any decisions without consulting those values first.
From an outside perspective, when I walk into this office, there is lots of laughter. There is intense debate. There is compromise and a drive forward, and it is a pleasure and an honor to have them as a client. Personally, I would call Bloody Thursday a success.
POWER THOUGHT: Sometimes the way forward depends on getting your knuckles bloody.
by Beth | Aug 24, 2022 | Company Culture, Firing Employees
This past week, I followed up with the client who fired the cultural terrorist, and I asked him how things were going.
He sighed. Then he said, “We have lots of issues. For example, now we have to complete all the projects that she sold. We are interacting with her clients and having to explain it without explaining it. Then we still have some of her supporters on staff, and the gossip is rampant. The clean-up work is so much. It is like a festering fart. The smell just lingers.”
He is so right. If you have ever experienced firing a really bad employee, you know exactly how he feels. I suggested to him to get his team together, and talk to them. Remember that after a situation like this, employees are asking themselves two questions:
1) What took you so long? Employees generally identify a cultural terrorist LONG before management does, because the terrorist will kiss up to leadership while crapping on those below and beside them.
2) Is my job at risk too? After someone is fired, it rattles every employee to the core, whether that person deserved to be fired or not.
Address these two questions like this: “It was time for us to part ways, and no one else is at risk of losing their job. I also need you all to help me get back on track for our year-end goals.” Put a stop to the gossip and re-focus your team to the objectives. Then, do something fun as a group during work hours for team building. And, if the terrorist’s supporters can’t get onboard, they may have to go also.
Finally, hang tight, and have faith. The smell will dissipate eventually.
POWER THOUGHT: Your office will smell after firing a cultural terrorist, but that festering fart will dissipate over time.
by Beth | Jan 2, 2020 | Company Culture, Firing Employees, Uncategorized
As we begin each New Year, many of us take the opportunity to re-group and redefine goals for our businesses. This time is often filled with renewed energy to get our lives and work in order. As a part of your New Year’s goals, it might also be time to fire that one employee that is not contributing to your company’s vision.
The impact of an unengaged employee on your business can be catastrophic. Decreased productivity, lowered company morale, and miserable working environments have been common complaints by my clients as they come to the decision to relieve an employee, especially when an estimated 50% of employees will change jobs in 2020! I say start the New Year fresh!
A past client of mine had an employee who consistently gave her ultimatums. The threats were often “If you don’t do this, then I will quit.” Who wants to work with an individual who is constantly threatening you? The team was struggling to work with the individual, my client was unhappy with the performance of the individual, yet the concept of firing and replacing this person seemed daunting and ill-timed. When my client finally became fed up, they did indeed fire the employee. I won’t sugar coat the transition. It was hard, uncomfortable and came at a terrible time, but my client knew that this was the right decision for the company.
In addition, the busiest day of the year for applicants looking for a job is the second Tuesday in January. Think about this: the people who are fed up with their work environments are also looking to make a change. So, if you want to start the New Year with someone who REALLY wants to work for you, get going! Now is the time.
Happy New Year!
