How to

NEVERFire an Employee

Ever AgainScot Jones, BA, RRT-ACCS, RCPRespiratory SupervisorVidant Medical Center

Formerly:Human Resource Director and (more importantly)Maker of Every Mistake You Can Make

serious? Are you

Out of Your Mind?!

Sane?Kidding me?

On your meds?

Some things you already know.

• People don’t always show you their real side in an interview• Communication is the universal bugaboo.• Supervising some people is easy.

Supervising other people makes you question the meaning of life.• Supervising is less about managing and

more about leading• It is nice to be appreciated.

We Can’t Solve Everything Today.

•Hiring• Retain•Appreciate •Communicate•Engage

• The DiffEmployee•Oh, and Never, Ever, Ever Fire an Employee Ever Again

HIRING

“80% of employee turnover is due to bad hiring decisions.”

Let’s Do the MathCost Explanation LOW Estimate

Advertising (Varies) $400

Interview Costs

Travel/Lodging $750

Salaries (1 hr) $200

Reference, Criminal, etc.

$100

Relocation Reimbursed $5,000

Sign-On Bonus $5,000

Orientation $20 x 18 x 12 (not counting employer portion of taxes, etc.)

$4,320

But, Scot, I don’t have time to waste with a lengthy hiring process

What if we did the same exercise again, but this time just looked at time spent hiring that one candidate?

Let’s Do the MathCost Explanation LOW Estimate

Advertising (varies) 1 hour

Interview Costs

Calls/Emails/Screens

1 hour

References, etc. 2 hours

Interview 1 hr x 5+ people

Orientation Administrative 3 hoursCompetencies 6 hours

We took the time to ensure we hire the RIGHT person for the RIGHT position

What If?

?

5 Inverted Hiring Strategies

#1 Spend as much time as it takes to get to know the applicant.

#2 Ask references for names of references

#3 Evaluate in context

#4 Be honest about the job

#5 In the end, hire legally, but trust your gut.

Why is it that we have “going away” parties and not “welcome to the team” parties?

#6

COMMUNICATE

Communication is Complicated Normally

(insert “Duh” here)

The 93% Rule

Somewhere Here

Communication

1 + 1 = What?

I always understand what I am saying

Ineffective Communication is Casual Communication

What I am Sayin

g

What is

Being Perceived

Message

Effective Communication is Intentional Communication

What I am Saying

What is

Being Perceived

Message

Intentional Communication is about controlling how you communicate a message, adapting it to meet the style of the receiver, sincerely seeking a response, and then clarifying your message.

5 Inverted Communication Strategies

#1 Find a Filter-Buddy

#2 Save important e-mails as drafts and send them at least several hours later

#3 Flip your 93%

#4 Be an active observer

#5 Engage in Intentional Communication

Practicing Intentional Communication

• For Important Messages, plan your communication

•What will you say?•Tone of Message•How will it be perceived? •Do you need a filter?

“Know Thyself” - Socrates

12 Dimensions1. I know what is expected of me at work2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my

work right3. I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day4. I’ve received praise in the last 7 days5. My supervisor seems to care about me as a person6. Someone at work encourages my development7. My opinions seem to count8. The mission of my company makes me feel my job is

important9. My co-workers are committed to doing quality work10.I have a best friend at work11.Someone has talked to me about my progress in last 6

months12.I’ve had opportunities to learn and grow

APPRECIATE

"The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

William James

I want to know that what I am doing makes a difference

and want to feel appreciated and

respected.

What’s missing from this list?

Why do most people take a job? Why do most people leave a job?

5 Inverted Appreciation Strategies

#1 Celebrate success and cheer continually

#2 Don’t hesitate to appreciate (2 + 2 + 2)

#3 Turn normal opportunities into extraordinaries!

#4 Your appreciation style is not their appreciation style

#5 Why size doesn’t matter

ENGAGEMENT

What Exactly does

Enagement Mean?

connection

meaningful

commitment

emotion

"a heightened emotional connection that an employee feels for his or her organization, that influences him or her to exert greater discretionary effort to his or her work".

5 Inverted Engagement Strategies

#1 Check In (and Listen)

#2 Ensure there is an active development plan

#3 Separate Engagement from Happiness

#4 Follow-Up (Be true to your word)

#5 Include and Communicate – think different roles, not hierarchy

Praise should be

ImmediateSpecifi cCareful

DIFFEMPLOYEE

Why are Employees Difficult?

• Some need is not being met • They are not “here” • They don’t care• They (pretend they) don’t care • You tell me . . .

5 Inverted Diffemployee Strategies

#1 Have a plan (and stick to it)

#2 Be clear, realistic, measurable with expectations

#3 Follow-up in writing

#4 Cheer on but never settle

#5 Schedule times to meet (with the goal of celebrating)

SUMMING IT UP

So, in the end, what does it take?

• Hire the right person for the right position• Celebrate! • Help your employees actively

develop • Plan times to talk and then be there! • Appreciate often, but always

sincerely• Document patterns and trends

Is it True?

backwards thinking about all is effective being

No, Really.

"As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. 

The next best, the people honor and praise.

 

The next the people fear; and the next the people hate. 

When the best leader's work is done, the people

say, "We did it ourselves." 

-Lao-tzu