The decisions to have employees leave an organization are among the toughest. While too often necessary, due to financial challenges, a change in strategic direction or performance, that still doesn’t make it easy.
People count on their jobs to buy food, pay mortgages, and save for college. The loss of a job is traumatic and frightening. It causes self-doubt and introspection of a kind that we’d just as soon avoid, along with introducing disruption to our routine and financial vulnerability that no one wants.
It’s hard to imagine that anything good can come from this kind of sudden change.
This is doubly so when friends, family, partners, true teammates and people that you genuinely care about are concerned. Whewww. Those are tough conversations!
I’ve had the unfortunate experience of being on both sides of that desk. I’ve been angry and hurt. I’ve been surprised. I’ve felt relief. I’ve been sued. I’ve tried to let them down easy…
So, what have I learned? It’s never easy, usually for the best, and the sun will shine again.
Sudden changes in any area of our lives are generally unwelcome. But these circumstances also force growth, or force us to look carefully at ourselves in the proverbial mirror.
So, when your world is shaken by a decision that you have to make, or one that is made for you, look. Look closely and carefully.
Determine what’s right, what fits. Consider who you are, where you are going and what you want to be. Look in that mirror, ask hard questions and keep probing until you are clear on answers that bring you peace, hope and even energy.
And then get moving.
Tough choices are – tough; even painful. But that doesn’t’ mean that a tough choice is a bad choice. Use these opportunities to turn the page, begin the next chapter, commence the next adventure, get focused on the future, or even make a dream come true.
Even under the best of circumstances it can be hard or sad to see someone go. But, in most cases, on the other side of that tough choice is a brighter, better, new reality for all involved.