The Cranky Middle Manager Show #218 Firing People- Phil Gerbyshak

Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by Wayne in Podcast

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Wayne Turmel talks to his buddy, The Management Expert, Phil Gerbyshak about the ugliest job a manager has: firing people. How to do it, how not to do it, how they did it back in the day (sending people on Crusade) and a quote to get you thinking. All in a day’s weasel whacking.

The ever-perky Phil Gebyshak joins us. Hopefully he doesn’t look this darned happy when firing someone.

Show Notes

0:00 Welcome to the show. Today we are talking firing people, something no manager wants to deal with and actually prevents some people from even becoming managers just so they never have to deal with it.  We dedicate this show to Peter Des Roches who fired, was fired and kept coming back for more.

2:20 If you or your company are looking to help managers deal with their virtual employees, you might want to check out How to Create and Manage Remote Teams.  New monthly courses will be posted as early as next week. Meanwhile, check out the Course Description and drop me a line to learn more.

3:00 Our quote of the week is from John Paul Richter, who said we save our best for hellos and goodbyes. What are we saying in between that make the goodbyes necessary? Ask yourself that one today.

3:46 Welcome Phil Gerbyshak back to the show. If you were a fan of the Slacker Manager blog, it is no more but he’s now the host of The Management Expert blog.  All you need to be something is to claim you are, but in Phil’s case it’s applicable. He and I wanted to talk about something that scares most managers: firing people.

6:00 Contrary to myth, we can’t imagine any manager actually likes firing people. In fact, it’s a reason some people don’t take on management roles.There are a thousand ways to say it but we’re talking about firing people. Less than 10% of the time it’s not that they’re incapable of doing the job so why don’t they work out and we have to let them go?

10:00 I can think of one big misconception- that you’re going to surprise the person. If you’ve done your job as a manager it should NEVER come out of the blue. Phil claims if it’s a surprise, you’re a terrible manager. He said it, not me.

13:00 We talk about how to put together a Performance Improvement Plan (and what the heck is a widget and who really makes them?). The biggest factor often is assumptions about what people know about the expectations of the job.

18:00 Step by step, how do you fire someone. You have to be prepared, almost to the point of scripting. Get HR involved and don’t get “squishy” (definition included free of charge).

20:40 Documentation for firing someone needs to be verbal and then written down. Phil uses the RISC model:

Report

Impact or implications

Specify

Consequences and commitment

Phil’s Resources

Dan McCarthy’s Great Leadership Blog
Past guest David Zinger

Kevin Eikenberry and Me on YouTube

Posted on 06. Dec, 2009 by Wayne in General

For those who missed Kevin Eikenberry’s online anniversary soiree, it was a blast and a cool example of ways you can use online presentations in new ways. i was honored to be asked to pay a visit and talk about virtual teams.

The good news, the camera is on Kevin, not on me. As my journalism prof once told me, I have a great face for radio!

All this AND I got to give away steaks!

A couple of new articles posted

Posted on 06. Dec, 2009 by Wayne in General

Hi folks, thought I’d drop you a line to keep you amused and distracted from the fact the latest show is a cojple of days late.

First, my latest Management Issues article on managers using their Reptilian Brains. This was inspired by my recent conversation with Judith Glaser.

Secondly, my latest BNET article on the challenge of collaborating online. Does it always mean you have to use tools that allow you to be on line at the same time? I don’t think so. Collaboration, like a good marriage, also requires some time alone to think and strategize. Did I just say that out loud?

Watch for a schedule of regular webinar courses starting in January!