How to Terminate a Struggling Employee

In today’s Harvard Business Review, I came across a good article that discusses practical tips for how to professionally and respectfully terminate a struggling employee.  The employee is a good person, and was at one time a productive and positive team member, but things have changed and you now need to part ways.  In this situation, according to this HBR author, an employer should take the following steps:

1.  Don’t wait until the end to say what’s been working and what hasn’t.

2.  If an employee continues to struggle, ask him/her how he/she feels about his/her progress.

3.  Once you’ve decided that someone isn’t the right fit for the long term, tell him/her.

4.  Allow the struggling employee to exit with grace.

5.  Communicate with the employees that remain.

You can read the full article here.