How to Tell Your Employees You’ve Fired Someone

How do you tell your employees you’ve fired someone? The topic makes most entrepreneurs very uncomfortable. But, there are certain situations which call for this type of action. Previously, we’ve talked about how to fire someone. However, what happens thereafter? It’s not like people won’t notice he or she is gone. So, how do you deal with remaining employees in a way that moves your company forward? The truth is, there is no such thing as a perfect transition. However, there are ways to make it go smoother.

Signs it’s Time to Terminate an Employee

Before you do take the final step of termination, you should be totally sure it’s the only recourse. For instance, a team member who consistently drags down productivity (and, won’t take steps to correct their behavior). Or, an employee who drains morale or constantly stirs-up drama are also toxic — don’t let your organization suffer unnecessarily. Also, an employee who is apathetic doesn’t care about their work product or customers isn’t worth keeping around.

One thing we know about human nature is that when there’s a mystery, people will solve it themselves: They make up the ending, and it’s almost always worse than reality. And that’s the problem–if you don’t tell people why, they’ll make up why. And the wrong why is almost always destructive. Information vacuums fill with rumors, and rumors lead to anxiety. —Inc.com

Then, there’s the serial rule violator. Someone who just refuses to play by the rules. It’s time to stop banging your head against the wall and do your business a favor. These situations are typically the most disruptive and harmful to a company.

How to Tell Your Employees You’ve Fired Someone

Now, if it’s time to let a team member go, you’ll have to navigate your employees through a weird experience. Here are some helpful suggestions for how to tell your employees you have fired someone:

  • Make a simple announcement. Convene a meeting or send out a memo. Simply state, “Bob no longer works here. Our transition steps are 1, 2, and 3. If you have any questions, please see Sue.” That’s it. Straightforward and to the point.
  • Don’t share details or communicate negatively. After terminating an employee, the human temptation is to share your reasons for the termination in order to rationalize your decision. And, sometimes this leads to making negative comments about the terminated employee. Do not fall into this trap! Be a leader. Otherwise, any other communication is destructive and deteriorates your culture and you lose respect with your existing employees.
  • Don’t tolerate rumors. Rumors are inevitable in these situations. Keep your ears open and if you hear one, nip it in the bud. Be polite but direct and firm. Do not let rumors become a distraction.
  • Give people a chance to step-up. Since there’s an open position, you can ask who is willing to step-in and fill the void. This is a great chance to see which team members are the most eager and loyal.
  • Seize the opportunity. This is likewise an opportunity to reset the company narrative. You might want to take it in a different direction or get back to fundamentals. Whatever change you’d most like to make, now is a prime opportunity.

How do you tell your staff you’ve let someone go? What other suggestions do you have for these situations? Please share your thoughts by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Related Posts

5 New Product Rules Every Entrepreneur Should Know

May 24, 2017 No Comments

Consumers are truly creatures of habit. In fact, the average family purchases the same 150 products again and again, which accounts for a whopping 85 percent of all needs, according to a study conducted by Harvard Business School. Of course, that means when a new product appears on the market, its got to somehow work its way into those recurring purchases. It’s no secret that consumers are quite brand-loyal, so, this presents an even larger challenge. When you stop to consider your own purchasing habits, you begin to realize just how loyal you are to certain brands. Carving out market share is difficult enough, but, even more so when a product comes from an unknown or relatively new source. 5 New Product Rules every Entrepreneur should Know There are some 250,000 new product launches globally on average, per year. Obviously, very few make it past the first couple of years, as clearly evidenced by the nearby quote. What’s more, companies often fail to recoup development costs. In the grocery industry alone, the failure rate is even higher, ranging from 70 percent to 80 percent, according to research done at the University of Toronto. …the fact remains that the success rates of new product introductions and innovations have improved little over the last 20 years. Booz & Company reports 66 percent of new products fail within two years, and Doblin Group says a startling 96 percent of all innovations fail to return their cost of capital. —Fast Company For small-sized American food businesses, the success rate is even more sparse, coming-in at just 11 percent, which regulates an eye-popping 89 percent to failure. The top culprits of failure are poor product quality and design, but overestimating demand, bad pricing and timing, as well as incorrect positioning also make the list. The statistics go on and on when it comes to new product failure, so, it’s important to know what makes products get past their introduction to the public and sell. Here are five new product rules every entrepreneur should know and follow: It must have at least one solid advantage. There are several advantages a product can have and among the most persuasive are value for the money, prestige, effectiveness, convenience, and high-quality. If you look over this list again, you’ll find at the heart of all these is providing for want and need. For instance, the iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone industry — it fulfills a need, is a high-quality product, and provides many conveniences. The product must fit into consumers’ routines. If a product won’t easily fit into consumers’ routines, it won’t sell on the market. A product must be able to accommodate buyers’ routines because, as mentioned above, people are creatures of habit. Some products are able to break this rule, but these are few and far between. It’s got to work right out-of-the-box. American consumers love convenience, and, are very annoyed when a new product proves to be anything but convenient. Most people cringe at the phrase “some assembly required,” because of past experiences. Make a product that works right out-of-the-box and it has a much better chance of success. The benefits should be obvious to consumers. When consumers can readily identify the benefits of a product, they are more likely to buy it. Stop to consider the last time you were shopping for a specific type of item and compared brands. It’s highly probable you purchased the one you could easily spot its benefits. It can be given away for nothing (or part of a promotion). The Clorox company began marketing its first cleaning products to businesses and this approach failed. However, one owner’s wife saw that it had marvelous residential use potential. She gave small bottles of it away and soon after, sales skyrocketed. When consumers are given the opportunity to “test drive” products for free or at a low cost, they are more apt to purchasing it again and again. Though these elements will all increase the chance of success for a new product, it’s important to understand the market and to have an executable plan to be successful. We have several Clients that have new and innovative products that are succeeding because they have followed these five rules. Let us know your new product ideas and make certain yours meets these five new product rules. Want to find out about what a business coach can do for you? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Read More »

Tackling Irrational Fears. Effective Strategies for Entrepreneurs to Achieve Small Business Success

July 1, 2023 No Comments

Starting a small business is an exciting and challenging endeavor. Entrepreneurs often face numerous obstacles along their journey, and one significant hurdle is overcoming irrational fears that can hinder progress and success. These fears can stem from uncertainties, self-doubt, or the fear of failure. Tackling Irrational Fears: Effective Strategies for Entrepreneurs to Achieve Small Business Success The good news is that by employing effective strategies, entrepreneurs can confront and conquer their irrational fears, paving the way for their small businesses to thrive. So, let’s take a little time to explore some actionable strategies that entrepreneurs can utilize to tackle their fears head-on and achieve the success they desire. Identify and Acknowledge Fears The first step in overcoming irrational fears is to identify and acknowledge them. Take the time to reflect on your fears, noting specific triggers and patterns. This self-awareness will enable you to address them directly. Remember, fear is a natural human emotion, and everyone experiences it. By acknowledging your fears, you take the first step towards conquering them. Challenge Negative Thoughts Irrational fears often arise from negative thought patterns. Challenge these thoughts by examining their validity. Are your fears based on concrete evidence or mere speculation? Analyze the potential risks and rewards objectively. Reframe negative thoughts into positive ones, focusing on possibilities and opportunities. Embrace a growth mindset and replace self-limiting beliefs with empowering affirmations. Seek Support and Guidance Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, but you don’t have to face your fears alone. Surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, peers, or fellow entrepreneurs who can offer guidance and encouragement. Share your fears with trusted individuals who can provide a fresh perspective or share their own experiences. Sometimes, simply talking about your fears can bring clarity and relief. Break Down Goals into Manageable Steps Feeling overwhelmed often fuels irrational fears. Combat this by breaking down your goals into small, manageable steps. By focusing on one step at a time, you create a sense of progress and accomplishment. Celebrate each milestone achieved, reinforcing positive emotions and building confidence. This incremental approach helps to dispel fears associated with the enormity of the task at hand. Embrace Continuous Learning One powerful way to combat irrational fears is through knowledge and education. Invest in your personal and professional development by attending workshops, seminars, or courses relevant to your industry. The more you learn, the more equipped you become to tackle challenges and make informed decisions. Expanding your knowledge base provides a solid foundation and boosts confidence in your abilities. Take Calculated Risks Entrepreneurship inherently involves taking risks. However, calculated risks are essential for growth and success. Analyze each potential risk carefully, considering the potential rewards and consequences. Develop contingency plans to mitigate potential pitfalls. By approaching risks methodically, you can alleviate irrational fears associated with uncertainty, enabling you to make informed decisions with confidence. Celebrate and Learn from Failure Failure is an integral part of the entrepreneurial journey. Rather than fearing it, reframe failure as an opportunity for growth. Embrace a mindset that sees failure as a stepping stone toward success. Analyze each failure objectively, extracting valuable lessons and adjusting your strategies accordingly. By celebrating your resilience and learning from setbacks, you will develop a greater sense of fearlessness. Lastly, be sure to practice self-care. Entrepreneurship can be demanding and stressful, making self-care crucial for maintaining a healthy mindset. Prioritize activities that promote mental and physical well-being, such as exercise, meditation, adequate sleep, and hobbies. Taking care of yourself strengthens your ability to cope with fears, enhancing your overall resilience and decision-making abilities. The Take-Away Conquering irrational fears is a vital component of entrepreneurial success. By identifying fears, challenging negative thoughts, seeking support, breaking down goals, embracing continuous learning, taking calculated risks, celebrating failure, and practicing self-care, entrepreneurs can effectively tackle their fears. Remember, fear is a natural part of the journey, but it should never hinder progress or define the outcome. With determination, perseverance, and the implementation of these strategies, entrepreneurs can overcome their irrational fears and pave the way for their small businesses to achieve great success. Are you interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Read More »

My Business Partner is Hiding Clients from Me — How Do I Deal with this Situation?

September 7, 2021 No Comments

You’ve just found out that your business partner has been hiding clients from you. Of course, this has a number of important implications including, but not limited to: revenue, reputation, day-to-day operation, and a variety of other issues. All of these, not to mention the breach of trust and value of the interpersonal relationship. It’s a very difficult set of circumstances to deal with, but obviously, you can’t just ignore it. You must take action, not only for your own sake but for the sake of your career and the business at large. Dealing with a Bad Business Partner Emotions Anger. Disbelief. Disappointment. Resentment. Shock. Sorrow. You could easily cite any one of these negative emotions because you’ll experience at least one or more of them. Before you do anything at all, it is essential that you understand your gut reaction and the long-term feelings you’ll probably encounter as time goes on. While you will get past this situation, you’ll probably never completely get over it. And, that’s okay. Not all partnerships or deals work out well. Some just can’t formalize because of extraneous factors affecting the agreement, while others can be impacted by poor communication skills or a lack of flexibility on goals or approaches. This means that it is essential for leaders to stay aware of the state of a pending deal or partnership, especially if there are quiet signs that things aren’t going as well as they’d like. —Small Business Trends You’ve no doubt experienced difficult circumstances in the past, and this is really no different. While it may be new, it most certainly won’t be the last time. The point being, do not allow pure, raw emotion to dictate your actions. If you give in to your negative feelings, you will make rash, poor decisions that will only make things worse. You need to approach this from a calm and rational perspective. So, give yourself a little time to vent and get those negative emotions out of the way. How to Deal with a Dishonest Business Partner Who is Hiding Secret Clients Once you feel calm and collected, you’ll need to methodically approach how you will deal with the situation. Here is a brief but effective guide for the steps you can take to deal with a business partner who has been hiding clients from you: Learn as much as possible about these clients. This probably won’t be easy or pleasant. If you are able, learn as much about these secret clients as possible. You might even go so far as to contact them yourself under the guise of following up with regular business. The whole idea is to try to get the best picture you can about these secret clients. Thoroughly examine all the business’ finances. The very next thing to do is look through your business’s financial documents. While these might not reveal anything at all — if your business partner was clever and deceitful enough — it could reveal an unseen pattern that you never detected before. At the very least, you might find some discrepancies, or this revelation will reveal past discrepancies you could not explain before. Formulate a couple or few separation scenarios. After you’ve done your detective work, it’s time to concentrate on how to best move forward. Since this is such a big betrayal of trust, it’s probably unrealistic to think that you can just patch things up and go on as if nothing has happened. So, you need to formulate at least a couple of ways that you can break up the relationship and do as little damage while causing as little disruption as possible. Talk to your business partner about ending your arrangement. This will most likely be the hardest part of resolving the situation. If you are able, don’t simply cut off communication and walk away. Instead, talk to your business partner in order to gain an understanding of his or her motivations. Although this certainly doesn’t excuse his or her behavior, it might help you in the future to detect when something’s awry when you otherwise wouldn’t. What other suggestions do you have for dealing with a dishonest business partner who is hiding something important? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Read More »