http://www.christianbusinessdaily.com/1269/the-need-to-fire-employees-by-phil-cooke.htm The Definitive Guide For Christian Business Owners Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:32:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.christianbusinessdaily.com/1269/the-need-to-fire-employees-by-phil-cooke.htm/comment-page-1#comment-251 Ron Lambros Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:28:21 +0000 http://www.christianbusinessdaily.com/?p=1269#comment-251 Firing someone is one of the most difficult experience of anyone's profession career, especially when it involves a faith-based company or ministry. I suppose many feel that ministries are immune to poor personnel performances, necessitating dismissals. The sad truth is, no organization is immune from the harsh reality that, sometimes, someone needs to go. When you sit on my side of the desk, professional standards and Christian-based policies and procedures dictate that I give every opportunity and chance, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. I can honestly say that I have never terminated anyone in anger or unjustly. People deserve better. But I have terminated someone who I knew was not a good fit far too late. My job should be to know the difference between the two. I always strive for fairness and objectivity, trying my best to make it work, either in their current position or finding a place that suits them better. But when every attempt fails, I am honest , caring and compassionate, but firm and direct. I seek to encourage and not destroy. And I seek to invest my years of knowledge and perspective into them, that they might, hopefully, grow and learn from the total experience. Does it always work? Not always. People you fire sometimes get angry and bitter and say terrible things about you. I do not have to answer to that person. I must remember that I have been afforded stewardship over a ministry organization and will be held accountable for every action taken, to my Board of Directors and, more importantly, my God. I will always remember a management principle I learned very early in my college career. A great professor of mine imparted this jewel of wisdom: It's not the ones you fire that come back to haunt you. It's the ones you should have, but didn't. Pearls of wisdom, even after 40 years. Firing someone is one of the most difficult experience of anyone’s profession career, especially when it involves a faith-based company or ministry. I suppose many feel that ministries are immune to poor personnel performances, necessitating dismissals. The sad truth is, no organization is immune from the harsh reality that, sometimes, someone needs to go. When you sit on my side of the desk, professional standards and Christian-based policies and procedures dictate that I give every opportunity and chance, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. I can honestly say that I have never terminated anyone in anger or unjustly. People deserve better. But I have terminated someone who I knew was not a good fit far too late. My job should be to know the difference between the two. I always strive for fairness and objectivity, trying my best to make it work, either in their current position or finding a place that suits them better. But when every attempt fails, I am honest , caring and compassionate, but firm and direct. I seek to encourage and not destroy. And I seek to invest my years of knowledge and perspective into them, that they might, hopefully, grow and learn from the total experience. Does it always work? Not always. People you fire sometimes get angry and bitter and say terrible things about you. I do not have to answer to that person. I must remember that I have been afforded stewardship over a ministry organization and will be held accountable for every action taken, to my Board of Directors and, more importantly, my God. I will always remember a management principle I learned very early in my college career. A great professor of mine imparted this jewel of wisdom: It’s not the ones you fire that come back to haunt you. It’s the ones you should have, but didn’t. Pearls of wisdom, even after 40 years.

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