Have you ever had to fire someone and lost sleep over it?
Firing someone isn’t as easy as saying, “You’re fired!”. If you’ve been through it, you know just how tough it can be–emotions run high, and it’s hard not to feel like you’re the bad guy.
That’s why I sat down with an HR expert to get her best advice on how to fire someone thoughtfully.
Today’s guest is Jackie Koch. Jackie has more than 15 years of experience hiring teams and leading human resources for Fortune 500 companies, startups, and small businesses. She launched People Principles in 2020 where she helps founders scale and lead their teams with HR and recruiting services. She's also the host of the World's Greatest Boss podcast.
In this episode, Jackie and I talk about the dos and don’ts of firing someone from your team. We dive into how to determine if firing is the right decision, and the steps managers should take to prepare for these difficult conversations.
Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, Jackie discusses the legal aspects of firing, what to do (and what not to do) to protect yourself and your organization, and how to manage the aftermath with your team.
Join the conversation now!
Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.
Conversation Topics
- (00:00) Introduction
- (02:38) When do you know it’s time to fire someone?
- (05:22) What managers need to do before firing a team member
- (09:34) Why document all your performance discussions
- (14:04) The dos and don’ts of firing
- (21:47) How to nail the toughest firing conversation
- (27:39) A great manager Jackie has worked for
- (28:45) Keep up with Jackie
- (29:15) [Extended Episode Only] The legal aspects of firing: What you need to know
- (32:36) [Extended Episode Only] The one thing to never do when firing someone
- (34:37) [Extended Episode Only] How to manage the aftermath with your team
Additional Resources:
- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month
- Read the full transcript here
- Follow me on Instagram here
- Visit my website for more here
- Upskill your team here
- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here
Keep up with Jackie Koch
- Follow Jackie on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Check out her website for more information here
- Subscribe to her podcast, World’s Greatest Boss here
5 Complimentary HR Audits
Jackie is generously offering five free HR audits to members of Podcast+. Normally priced at $249, the HR Audit includes a self-assessment and a 60-minute call with Jackie or her business partner to review everything and talk through suggested changes to implement.
To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.
---------------------
The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.
Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.