In the steps prior to releasing a person, the leader oftentimes goes through a series of steps that might be called The Firing Dance.  It is not unlike what a couple goes through prior to a divorce.  This insight is being shared to make sure a leader anticipates this dance and doesn’t create any more self-doubt than is already present with such a difficult duty of a leader.

In order to keep the leader from self-doubting himself/herself on this process, the heart of the matter is that the leader is internally weighing whether or not there is more pain in keeping the employee or letting the employee go – knowing intuitively that there will be pain either way.

For awhile the leader might believe that there will be less pain in keeping the employee, then suddenly starts to believe that there will be less pain in letting the employee go.  This vacillation can go on for months (hopefully not for years).

However, then suddenly the dance stops and a decision is made.  All of this is perfectly normal and universal in the uncoupling process whether it be that of an employee, a friend, or a spouse.

See the book entitled Uncoupling by Diane Vaughan for more on this interesting process.

Categories: Assertiveness

Tags: assertiveness