You Will Be Judged by How You Let People Go

One of the most challenging aspects of business management is that of laying off or firing employees. Given that the number of unemployed persons in our country is approaching 11 million, it is safe to say there are many stressed out business managers, not to mention stressed out employees and former employees.

There are good ways and bad ways to let people go. Responsible business leaders make sure everyone involved does it right:

* the employee is advised well ahead of time.
* the employee is consulted and involved: how best and when to get fired or laid off.
* there is flexibility such as a transfer, changing to part time status or taking a pay cut.
* there is assistance offered to relocate, search for new opportunities, get training.
* other employees and former employees are encouraged to offer support and assistance. Going it alone when out of work is devastating and often leads to bad decisions as well.

The business leader has a double responsibility. One is to the company itself and the other is to the employees. Letting people go in order to save the company is a great way to tear the heart out of the leader. If you happen to be the leader, make sure you are not alone. Talk to trusted friends about your stress. Consider business coaching, mentoring or executive leadership training. Network with other executives, especially those who are experienced and have good relationships with their boards as well as their employees. In other words, look around for those leaders who are doing it the right way, and seek their guidance.

In the days of sailing ships nobody wanted to sign on with captains who lacked experience, whose ships had sunk, or who treated their crews like animals. Mutinies usually happened only for good reasons. There is a certain parallel with today's economy: employees are like the crews of old. They want leaders who are competent and can be trusted to do right by the company and the crew.

The economy is in trouble. That means you are sailing in rough waters. How you let people go is a measure of your leadership. Whether you can keep your company floating is another measure. How to handle the situation if your company sinks is yet another and perhaps the ultimate measure of your leadership caliber.

But your employees will judge you by how you let people go. And rightly so!

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You Will Be Judged by How You Let People Go