| The book The Hard Thing About Hard Things has a chapter on firing. Simplifying a lot of detail - managers have to fire their own people. Don't delegate this, no outsourcing, don't tell the sadistic one to do it. The head has to address the companu, admit that it's their mistake. They overhired, they didn't hit sales targets, they had scope creep. Whatever it was tha led to this. Ideally the CEO. Then don't avoid them, be present, show that you care. I had a friend who had to deal with a mass layoff. She told people that everyone is replaceable (more to protect her feelings, not theirs). She is no longer a friend. Do be clear. You can be apologetic, but make it clear that the decision has been made (no "I think"). A sharp knife hurts less. It shouldn't sound negotiable. Do protect the reputation of those laid off. Often they have more good than bad if they weren't fired immediately. You do owe a reasoning to those who worked under them - if you don't, they may gossip and speculate. Let the laid off person decide what the story is. Then you do have to offboard them and escort the right people out, especially managers. Have that severance package ready, have security escort them as they clean out their desk and walk them out of the building. |