070 - When You Know They Need To Go
When to Say Goodbye: A Guide for Small Business Owners on Letting Go of Employees
As a small business owner, firing an employee is never an easy decision. But sometimes, it's necessary for the good of your company.
“It’s oftentimes not the employees that you fire that cause chaos and headache for you, but it’s the ones that you don’t fire.”
Letting go of an employee is one of the toughest tasks that a business owner will face. It's difficult because it involves difficult emotions, like guilt and sadness. It's also difficult because it involves difficult decisions, like how to handle the workload and whether or not to replace the employee. In this article, we'll discuss why people hate to fire employees, how to keep track of employee performance, and when it's time to make the tough decision to let someone go.
Firing an employee can be emotionally taxing for the employer. You may feel guilty for letting someone go, especially if you've worked with them for a long time. You may also worry about the impact on your team and the business as a whole. It's important to remember, however, that letting go of an employee who isn't a good fit can be beneficial in the long run. It can free up resources and allow you to bring on someone who is a better fit for the role and the company.
It's important to regularly review and assess employee performance. This can help you identify any areas where an employee may be struggling, as well as areas where they excel. Some ways to keep track of employee performance include setting clear goals and expectations, giving regular feedback, and conducting performance evaluations. By regularly tracking employee performance, you can identify any issues early on and address them before they become major problems.
As a small business owner, it's important to delegate tasks to your employees. Delegation allows you to focus on the most important tasks and helps your team grow and develop. However, it's important to find the right balance between delegation and abdication. Abdication, or relinquishing all control and responsibility, can lead to a lack of accountability and poor performance.
One way to improve employee performance and increase accountability is to implement a scrum framework. A scrum is a team-based approach to project management that emphasizes flexibility and rapid iteration. By using a scrum, you can improve communication and collaboration within your team and identify any issues early on.
As a small business owner, it's important to foster a positive work environment and cultivate a culture of teamwork. One way to do this is to shift your language from "I need this from you" to "How can I help you?" This small change in wording can have a big impact on employee morale and motivation.
“The true gratification in life comes from accomplishing something. If you’re given everything, then you’re denied that.”
While letting go of an employee is never easy, there are certain signs that it may be time to make the tough decision. These signs include:
Repeatedly failing to meet deadlines or goals
Disruptive behavior or negative attitude
Lack of motivation or engagement
Inability to adapt to changes in the company
Poor performance or lack of progress despite efforts to improve
Don't prolong your agony: If you've identified one or more of these signs and have made the decision to let an employee go, it's important to act quickly. Don't prolong the agony – it's not fair to either you or the employee. Prepare a clear, concise plan for transitioning their responsibilities and communicate it to the rest of the team.
Letting go of an employee is never an easy decision, but it's sometimes necessary for the good of your business. By regularly reviewing and tracking employee performance, delegating tasks effectively, and creating a positive work environment, you can help prevent the need to let someone go. However, if you do find that it's time to let an employee go, it's important to act fast and have a plan in place for transitioning their responsibilities. Remember to keep an open mind and always consider what is best for your company in the long run.
You know when an employee is unmotivated or not performing, but you keep putting off firing them anyway. Why? Because you're worried about making the wrong decision. In this episode, we'll talk about signs that they need to go so you can fire with confidence.
Show Notes
Why people hate to fire employees. (6:14)
How do you keep track of employee performance? (9:03)
Delegation vs. Abdication. (10:46)
Change your business with a scrum. (10:23)
How can I help you? vs. I need this from you. (12:43)
Checklist of signs that they need to go. (18:11)
Fire fast. Don't prolong your agony. (29:12)
Quotable Moments
"It's oftentimes not the employees that you fire that cause chaos and headache for you, but it's the ones that you don't fire." — K
"The true gratification in life comes from accomplishing something. If you're given everything, then you're denied that." — M
"You don't have to settle for mediocrity." — M
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