Management - IS IT TIME TO SAY GOODBYE?

Whether or not we like it, firing employees is a part of entrepreneurship. Here’s how to know when to let go of a team member.

- JAMES P. FRIEL

In a perfect world, entrepreneurs would always hire the best people and never have to deal with firing anybody. But this is the real world. And sometimes people just don’t work out.

Firing someone can be one of the most stressful decisions you face as a business owner. You don’t want to do it based on a knee-jerk reaction, nor do you want to tolerate low performance. Instead of relying solely on your emotions, there’s an easy tool to help you effectively evaluate an employee’s performance and make a decision. It’s called the Willing and Able Matrix.

There are two different spectrums on which people can perform their jobs: willing and able. When someone is able to do their job, it means they have the necessary skills, competence, and expertise to perform their responsibilities. When someone is willing to do their job, it means they are aligned with the company’s mission and values, and are enthusiastic about their role.