by Miriam Hara | May 3, 2024 | Administration, Business Success, Management
Goodbyes are never easy and breaking up is hard to do no matter if it’s a personal relationship or a business relationship. Scratch that. If you are working in a good organization that caringly fosters culture and growth, chances are you are fortunate to share a personal relationship at some level with your colleagues. So the end result is that all relationships are personal, even the business ones.
It’s a Small World:
If there is truth with the saying that the world is small, the same can be said about the business community. Whatever your profession is; in the business world of marketing, sales, logistics, or finance; or if it’s in the medical arena and you’re a pharmacist, nurse, family doctor, or a medical specialist; that professional community is small.
It is in the interest of all parties to act professionally when saying goodbye because chances are you will run into one another, or yes, may even need the assistance of one another in the future. For instance, when transitioning from one company to another, you might find yourself working with former colleagues or clients in a new setting. You just never know! Working alongside one another every day, for 1year, 5years, or 15years…it is inevitable to have a personal relationship. And sometimes, even if it’s the best working relationship, there needs to be a parting of ways.
The “Be-Kind” Philosophy:
Relationships work both ways. So even when it comes time for a business relationship to end…keep your head high, and your heart kind. That has been my philosophy. In the years I’ve been in business I’ve had to say my fair share of good-byes.
The Reasons for Calling it Quits:
I’ve had to say my fair share of saying goodbye to awesome clients as there was a “change of guards”, or a change in their direction. And of course, I have had to say my goodbyes to fabulous team members that I had built an amazing rapport with. The reasons for their leaving range from a personal change, or to wanting something different, or just needing a change, or quite frankly, it just wasn’t working anymore.
I’ve always been accepting of the choices or the situation and have been professional about it. As a result of this, many of my former clients are my friends, and some clients have come back. Former team members still reach out to me to say hi, or for advice and it’s a beautiful thing. I acknowledge that there are some awful situations that merit being cut off at the pass forever and ever. However, doing it respectfully removes the drama and leaves the situation behind rather than it being part of history.
Time Brings Perspective:
In the interest of transparency, sometimes you need a break after the breakup. However if the breakup was done respectfully, then it’s only a matter of time before the ability to open the door and reach out becomes even remotely possible. When saying goodbye to a client or an employee or employer isn’t done professionally, you not only cut off any more history to be developed between you…but you amputate a part of your career as well. You can no longer reach out or draw in advice from people that can help you in your future endeavours. It’s really being short-sighted and self-sabotaging. It also really cuts into your networking opportunities.
Don’t Burn Bridges:
There is some truth to most sayings… and this one really resonates here. Not burning the bridge that links the 2 parties together is sound advice. When all is said and done, there are always 3 sides to a story… 3 perspectives to the same story…your side, the other side and the truth. By dealing with it professionally, you get the time you need to be able to look back at the situation with maybe a fresh perspective.
Navigating goodbyes in professional relationships is an art that requires kindness, respect, and foresight. Whether bidding farewell to clients, colleagues, or employers, the manner in which we part ways speaks volumes about our professionalism and character. By embracing the “be-kind” philosophy and understanding that relationships transcend transactions, we not only preserve bridges but also pave the way for potential future collaborations.
So, the next time you find yourself at the crossroads of a professional departure, remember to leave with grace, knowing that every goodbye is an opportunity for growth, reflection, and perhaps, a future hello…quicker than you realize.
by Joyce Turner-Gionet | Jul 17, 2015 | Business Success, Latest, Management
Your company’s struggling financially and you’re going to have to lay off staff. How you do it is important. In Canada, there are labour laws (Canada Labour Code) that employers must follow during a layoff. This blog isn’t about laws, it’s about love.
In most layoffs, if we’re honest, a little deadwood leaves; employees who perennially didn’t pull their weight despite being coached and encouraged, perhaps even warned, multiple times. But we lose valuable assets too, people who practice business love. These are smart, capable, motivated employees who cheerfully showed up each day willing to go that extra mile to get a job done. I’ll call them business lovers.
“It’s never a good moment, but it’s a better moment when done with love”
6,500 Canadians lost their jobs last month, according to Stats Canada. When I read that stat in the paper, I thought about the 6,500 conversations it involved. How many of those termination conversations were politely informal, cold and loveless? It got me thinking about the way people are laid off. I thought about talks I’d had with friends recently. Over the past year, a few of them, all business lovers, have been laid off. All were long-time employees, all valuable contributing team players at different companies. Each of them had a slightly different experience. I thought of my own experience. The #1 takeaway from my conversations: “It’s never a good moment, but it’s a better moment when done with love.” It’s better at the time and strange as it seems, better when that ex-employee looks back and there was a compassionate, human face on the experience.
[inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=”#DoitwithLove #ExceedBeyond”]In our society, jobs still define us. We are what we do.[/inlinetweet]
What’s the number one question people ask each other at dinners or parties when they meet for the first time: “What do you do?” When you take the ‘what I do’ away from someone, especially when it comes out of the blue, it’s a shocking experience for them. They think (although in the moment it’s probably never framed quite so coherently): “[sinking feeling in stomach] that’s what I did [panic], what do I do now [more panic]?” Dismissal from work ranks high on the famous Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, a report from the late 1960s, still valid today, which studied the top 43 most stressful life events that can contribute to illness.
Business owners, managers, HR: If it’s part of your job description to hire, fire and also lay off in troubled times, you need to own it. If you haven’t had any formal training in letting people go, try to get some. It can be emotional on both sides; yours and the employee you have to let go. Wear your big girl or big boy pants and take the time, be respectful, show the love. Sure, it can get a little tricky, but it’s a lot trickier for the employee whose entire life changes dramatically in the 15 seconds it takes you to say: “We have to lay you off.”
Understand the impact you’re going to have on a person’s life in those few seconds. In planning for the layoff, while preparing documentation, take a moment to ask yourself: “If I were to be laid off, how would I want it to be done?” Think about the tone of the conversation you will have. Here’s my take:
- Make sure the location you choose is a place where the conversation cannot be overheard, a place that also allows that person freedom of emotion. It’s an emotional time.
- Don’t simply show up at an employee’s desk with the proverbial pink slip, HR package and a rehearsed HR spiel. Make your words heartfelt and personal.
- Especially in the case of a business lover, that person did nothing wrong, they’re a victim of financial circumstances. Focus on that. Tell them they were valued and appreciated. Emphasize and reiterate.
- Expect anger or grief, or even a complete absence of both, everyone’s emotional makeup is different.
- Don’t get try to get the conversation over as quickly as possible.
- Give them a chance to speak, an opportunity to let out emotions and ask questions about anything they want to ask.
- Let them know they can contact you if there’s something they’ve forgotten to ask.
- Follow up! If you’ve promised a reference letter or the services of a placement firm to help them transition to a new job or learn a new skill set, provide the letter and the firm’s contact information the same day. If you can’t do it the same day, do it in the week immediately following. Don’t wait for the ex-employee to be forced to follow-up with you.
- Give them an opportunity to say goodbye to their colleagues, if they wish. Many people never go back to their place of employment after a layoff, so this allows for a little closure. The hugs, handshakes and the “I can’t believe this is happening and I’m really going to miss you” comments from colleagues (and yes, even the tears) are surprisingly comforting to many people who have just been laid off.
- Speak to the people who are still there. There’s nothing like losing your colleague in a layoff to start the rumour mill: Am I gonna be next?
And finally … DON’T show the cheese video!
Who Moved My Cheese? is an allegorical video about reinventing yourself. It’s often shown to employees who are going to be laid off. Two little mice — Sniff and Scurry — and two tiny humans — Hem and Haw — live in a maze. For years, they’ve relied on a seemingly never-ending pile of cheese. The pile dwindles, until one day it’s gone. The characters’ names give you a good idea of what they do next … it’s time for all four to get motivated and find a new cheese pile. If you’re going to show that cheesy video, make sure you explain why you’re showing it, otherwise you cause panic in the minds of the watchers. You provoke tense conversations later around the water cooler or in the kitchen or during after-hours phone calls, texts and emails between employees: “What is the company saying to us?” “What do you think that movie meant?” “Are we going to lose our jobs?” “Do they see us as mice?
Who moved my Cheese? The Movie by Dr. Spencer Johnson
Yes, it is a lousy job laying someone of; nobody wants to do it, but somebody’s gotta do it. If you’re the one who draws the short straw by virtue of your position, make sure you do it right. [inlinetweet prefix=”Food for thought” tweeter=”” suffix=”#DoitwithLove #ExceedBeyond”]Forced to lay off employees: do it with love.[/inlinetweet]
Been laid off? Was it done with love, let me know? [inlinetweet prefix=”We love lists” tweeter=”” suffix=”#DoitwithLove #ListChallenge #ExceedBeyond”]Have additional ideas for the ‘How to do it with love’ list?[/inlinetweet] Send them to me. #DoitwithLove
A unique approach to laying people off:
Is it possible to lay people off nicely. One company’s quest to blend rejection and kindness
by Belinda Lui | Dec 9, 2013 | Business Success, Latest
I was shown a video last night that I wanted to share with you: found on the VICE website, this video shows a man, Sun Jifa, who lost both his hands during a fishing explosion. He couldn’t afford prosthetic hands – so he made a pair for himself out of iron. His bravery and perseverance in overcoming this devastating accident is already worth mentioning – but what makes this story an even more encouraging one is that he now dedicates his life to making prosthetic arms for the less fortunate in China. It’s a story about overcoming challenges.
Overcoming challenges isn’t only about helping yourself, but to help those around you overcome them as well.
He doesn’t do it to make money – he charges his clients a minimal amount (that is usually given to the clients from Government aid) so that they can continue working to sustain a family. He does it because he knows what it feels like to be handicapped and not be able to afford the things that can help him lead a normal life.
We can all take a page from his book when we consider the bravery and perseverance required to overcoming challenges; in the workplace and in life.
Oftentimes, it is easy when faced with a challenge to turn and run the other way. Adversity is a gift, if you can appreciate the lesson. I agree that it is easier to see a difficult boss, a daunting task, or even a conflict with a colleague as a deterrent to going in to work with enthusiasm – but perhaps facing these challenges with tact and dedication will prove fruitful in the end.
Taking it a step further, if you can turn your challenges into doing good for those around you (offering encouragement to a colleague, taking on extra projects to relieve your teammates, even research possible new developments to give back to your community) then you might just find yourself a happier person, more successful and fulfilled in the knowledge of the betterment of yourself and overcoming challenges.
I hope the story of Sun Jifa serves as an uplifting motivation for you on this gloomy Monday morning, and for every time you feel as though there is a challenge too difficult of overcoming.
To watch this video, click here.
