the hardest day as a first time manager i ever had was when i had to let someone go in a RIF. he had done nothing wrong other than be the last guy hired in the team. i hadn't been the best manager to him (i've since invested myself a lot of learning management), and so i felt like i doubly let him down.
letting people go is hard, for almost any reason, and i think this piece captures that. i don't agree with everything he writes (i'm a big fan of training and setting people up for success), but the two big highlights for me are holding people accountable to clear expectations of performance, and "him or me." while the latter sounds awful, like some jerk is putting the manager in the middle and forcing a choice, the fact is that the team and ultimately the company will suffer if problem employees persist.
management always seems like tyranny before you get into it, arbitrary and capricious. while we all see bad managers from time to time who reinforce that stereotype, good managers demonstrate the opposite, that management is anything but fickle tyranny, or even power. it's responsibility.
the hardest day as a first time manager i ever had was when i had to let someone go in a RIF. he had done nothing wrong other than be the last guy hired in the team. i hadn't been the best manager to him (i've since invested myself a lot of learning management), and so i felt like i doubly let him down.
letting people go is hard, for almost any reason, and i think this piece captures that. i don't agree with everything he writes (i'm a big fan of training and setting people up for success), but the two big highlights for me are holding people accountable to clear expectations of performance, and "him or me." while the latter sounds awful, like some jerk is putting the manager in the middle and forcing a choice, the fact is that the team and ultimately the company will suffer if problem employees persist.
management always seems like tyranny before you get into it, arbitrary and capricious. while we all see bad managers from time to time who reinforce that stereotype, good managers demonstrate the opposite, that management is anything but fickle tyranny, or even power. it's responsibility.