How to Fire with Compassion (Quick Study)

Firing needs to be handled well: the person you’re firing today could become a key contact or client tomorrow.


Firing is never easy, and shouldn’t be. But it is something a manager should strive to handle well. Building great teams requires picking the best talent and also removing talent that isn’t working out. Letting someone go is a painful process, but if done well, it won’t come as a surprise to them and you’ll set them up for success when they leave. Being compassionate during this process is key to building a lasting professional network.

Joel Peterson, chairman of JetBlue and an adjunct professor at Stanford, has fired plenty of people during his long career—and he’s been fired himself.

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