10 Stupid Things Bosses Say When They Fire People

Getting fired sucks. And getting fired sucks even worse when the person letting you go says something foolish, stupid, or even insulting.

After all, the sole goal of the people doing the firing is to treat the employee as respectfully and compassionately as possible.

Their feelings? Irrelevant.

Which is why bosses should never say any of the following:

1. "Look, this is really hard for me."

Who cares if it’s hard for you? The employee certainly doesn’t. Talk about how difficult the situation is for you and the employee immediately thinks, "Really? What about me? How hard do you think this is on me?" If you feel bad—and you will—talk through your feelings later with someone else. (If you're like me, sometimes you'll second-guess yourself too.)

Also never say, “Look, I don't know how to say this…” You do know how to say it. You’re just uncomfortable actually saying it.

Never even hint that the employee should somehow feel your pain. That's just selfish.

2. "We've decided we need to make a change."

You're not an NBA team firing an unsuccessful coach. And you're not holding a press conference either, so skip the platitudes. If you've done your job right the employee already knows why he's being fired. (Here's a straightforward guide to firing people the right way.)

State the reason for your action as clearly and concisely as possible. Or just say, "Mark, I have to let you go."

Mark should already know why.

3. "We will work out some of the details later."

For the employee getting fired is both the end and the start of another process: Collecting personal items, returning company property, learning about benefits status, etc.

It's your job to know how all that works ahead of time. Getting fired is bad enough; sitting in limbo while you figure out the next steps is humiliating for an employee who wants nothing more than to leave.

Never make an employee wait to meet with others who are part of the process. Once you let an employee go she's on her time, not yours.

4. "Compared to Juan, you just aren't cutting it."

Never justify firing an employee by comparing them to someone else. Employees should be fired because they fail to meet standards, targets, or behavioral expectations.

Plus, drawing comparisons between employees makes it possible for what should be an objective decision to veer into the “personality zone,” a conversational black hole you will struggle to escape.

5. "Okay, let’s talk about that. Here’s why..."

Most employees sit quietly, but a few will want to argue. Never let yourself be dragged into a back-and-forth discussion. Just say, "Pete, we can talk about this as long as you like, but you should understand that nothing we discuss will change the decision." While that sounds harsh, it's not. Besides, arguments almost always make the employee feel worse.

Be professional, be empathetic, and stick to the facts. Don't feel the need to respond if an employee starts to vent.

Just listen. That’s the least you can do. And the most you can do.

6. "You’ve been a solid employee but we simply have to cut staffing."

If you truly are downsizing, leave performance out and just say you're downsizing.

But if you're not actually downsizing and you're hiding behind that excuse so the conversation is easier for you then you do the employee a disservice—and you open your business up to potential problems if you later hire someone to fill the open slot.

Never play games to try to protect the employee's feelings—or, worse, to protect your own. Just be direct.

7. "We both know you aren't happy here, so down the road you’ll be glad."

Whether or not the employee will someday be glad you let her go is not for you to judge. Don't expect employees to find a silver lining in the cloud of getting fired, at least not at first. Let them find their own glimmers of possibility.

8. "I need to walk you to the door."

I once worked for a company where the policy was to immediately escort terminated employees out of the building. (And I hated it.)

Getting fired doesn't make an employee a criminal, so don’t put them through walks of shame. Just set simple parameters. Say, "Jane, please gather up your personal belongings and I'll meet you back here in 10 minutes."

If Jane doesn't come back on time, go get her. She won't argue.

9. "We have decided to let you go."

The word "we" is appropriate in almost every setting... but not this one. Say, "I."

At this moment, you are the company. So take responsibility.

10. "If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know."

Like what? Write a glowing letter of recommendation? Call your connections and put in a good word for him? (Of course if you're forced to lay off good employees due to lack of work, definitely do anything you can to help them land on their feet.)

You should absolutely say, "If you have any questions about benefits, final paychecks, or other details, call me. I'll make sure you get the answers you need." But never offer to do things you can't do. You might feel a little better, but the employee won't.

Remember, when you fire an employee it's all about the employee, not about you—and especially not about what makes you feel better.

Written by Jeff Haden (published on LinkedIn)

5 Common Entrepreneur Mistakes

If you fall into any of these traps, it could spell the end of your business.

The road to creating your own business is waylaid with possible mistakes on all sides. One wrong move, one wrong partner or contract, and everything could come crashing down around you. Since you are putting your all into your business, you should pay attention to the following list of the five most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them.

1. Picking the Wrong Partner

Even though it may sound like a great idea to start your own business with your best friend, you have to take into consideration your friend's qualifications. The person may share the same passion for the idea that you have, but if he has no idea how to run a business or frequently mishandles his own money, you should not invest your capital or time with him to get a business off the ground. On the other hand, if you find a potential partner who has all the business skills in the world behind her but you cannot get along with her, you should avoid partnering with her as well, as confrontation will do nothing to help your business get off the ground. You need to find someone who has the best of both worlds: skills and personality.

2. Losing Sight of Your Market

It's true that the larger your market is, the better your sales are going to be, simply because of the law of averages. But if you try to please everybody, you are going to lose everybody. If a product is so generalized that you cannot pin down whom it should be sold to, you will not know whom to pitch to. Also, pitching to the general public takes away the sense of personal need that niche products provide. Know whom you are selling to for optimal success.

3. Not Knowing How to Budget

If you run out of money at any point in your business startup, that is a pretty good sign that your financial future is not too great either. A successful business owner will be laying down budgets from day one, in addition to finding ways to make money stretch. He or she will also realize that you need to always have some sort of financial cushion, because an emergency can strike at any moment. In that case, if you do not have anything to pull from, your only option could be to shut your doors.

4. Not Staying in Touch With Your Customers

If you do not gather feedback from your customers, especially in the early phases of your business, you will not know what is working for you and what is not. If sales start to dip down and you do not know why, it could take time that you do not have to turn the ship around. Getting feedback means that you will have a pulse on your business, and will know exactly what adjustments to make to better it.

5. Getting Your Emotions Involved

Your emotions are obviously going to be the driving factor in your business, as the passion you have for the idea or solution is going to be why you start it in the first place. But if you get too attached to what you are doing, you will open yourself to the possibility of being blind to the changes needed to further your success or to the one idea to leave behind in pursuit of a more sustainable future.

From Inc. Magazine

7 Traits to Turn Good Managers Into Great Managers

At my core I believe that great managers have one job: to get the very best out of the people they manage. While that premise sounds simple, the execution is hard.

Throughout my career I have had the fortune of learning from and working alongside some great managers. And I have also had plenty of exposure to bad leaders and individuals who have demonstrated poor management acumen. Fortunately, I am able to learn from my past experiences and implement the best tactics at my current position, the VP of Communications for Porch. In this role,

developing great managers is one of my primary commitments.

So, how do good managers become great managers?

It starts with understanding and ultimately excelling at the following seven traits.

1. Have great attitudes.

Attitude really is everything and great managers know that their energy and attitude sets the pace for the day. Whereas good managers stroll up the stairs, great managers run up the stairs.

They also know how to manage their poker face. Body language is a signal that people feed on; it is part of the human condition.

Lastly, a great manager knows when to hold certain situations lightly and when to drive certain situations with a high degree of urgency. Their communication is not hard to read or understand.

2. Are transparent.

You cannot be a great manager if you sugarcoat things. They must know how to speak to their reports in a way that is direct, factual and straightforward -- especially when it comes to bad news. They also get to the point quick and transition into solution-based thinking (versus wallowing).

Top-notch managers must also be transparent. This trait helps drive away any potential rumor mills before they open. They foster a culture of candor, making it easier for people to give meaningful real-time feedback. 

3. Demonstrate maturity.

Great managers are able to regulate their emotions -- especially as it relates to representing and serving as an example of the company’s values. They do so, as they realize they serve as a megaphone for the values of the company and handle this responsibility with a high degree of character and maturity.

Internally, exceptional managers consistently fly above the noise and don’t get caught in emotional traps. They know that if they really feel frustrated, it is best to go for a walk. They don’t over-react and lose their cool in the office.

4. Remain flexible.

Great managers know that it is not all about them; it is all about the people. When things get bumpy they embrace ambiguity and make others comfortable in dealing with change. They also know that no two employees are the same and spend the time getting to know what motivates and challenges people. They ask questions and listen so they can setup a working relationship that is tailored to the specific needs of an employee (as appropriate and reasonable as possible).

5. Reinforce accountability.

Remarkable managers are obsessed with accountability. They realize that the success of their direct reports is their success. On the flipside, they share in failures and mistakes. They hold regular one-on-one meetings with their direct reports and reinforce the outcomes they and the team are responsible for. They are vested in driving solution-based cultures and strive to build an environment of continued learning (versus finger pointing). Also, to keep staff focused, they make sure to handle and manage accountability conflicts as they come up (instead of letting things fester).

6. Get their hands dirty.

Great managers know in addition to being a leader, they are also teammates. They don’t just give feedback on problems; they help with implementing the solutions. These managers are very clear and realistic when it comes setting and communicating goals. Along the way they get their hands dirty and put in the work to ensure their direct reports are setup for success. They show them how to be successful if they are falling behind and demonstrate best practices to help guide them along.

7. Develop great talent.

The number-one advantage for a company having great managers is they develop great talent. They are able to get the right people in the right roles at the right time. They do this through the encouragement of mentorship opportunities and the implementation of a proactive plan for addressing career development interests, needs and desires. Great managers care about the future as much as they care about the present for both the business and the individual.

From Entrepreneur

Meeting the Right People Is Worth It, Even If You Have to Pay for Access

We’ve all heard that who you know is as important as what you know. Frankly, I wish that weren’t true. So much so, that I’ve occasionally resisted the notion in print. But a recent experience has me changing my tune.

After years of aggressively banging down doors -- to little avail -- I attended a two-day seminar about an industry I invent for. It was not inexpensive. But because attendees had paid to be there, it was small and intimate. I was astounded by whom I suddenly had access to.

The speakers, who were industry leaders, were right there. They were available to chat over coffee and at lunch. I introduced myself and gave them my business card. They gave away their contact information freely. Later, when I followed up over email, I was even able to connect one individual with a potential client.

I’m not convinced there’s any other way I would have ever reached these people, despite my doggedness. I mean, this is an industry I’ve spent years in, I had practically given up. To be clear, I’ve met people who have introduced me to power players at free events and events that charge a modest entry fee, as well.

So the question becomes, when is it advisable to pay for access? There’s no single answer, but I think it’s something you should spend some time thinking about. Yes, your business might be limited on funds. But if you’re burning through cash because you can’t get in touch with the right people, maybe you can’t afford not to. From time to time, paying for access is warranted.

Who you know really does matter -- in fact, sometimes it’s what matters most.

You don’t have to let that discourage you. Meeting the right people isn’t a matter of luck and it isn’t just a matter of income. With these tips, you too can become a master networker. 

1. Stay abreast of industry news.

Get to know the major players by reading the news. Join industry mailing lists. Establish a social-media presence. That way, you’ll be aware of potential events to attend and people to meet.

2. Know that it’s not enough to simply be present.

You must go one step further and introduce yourself, make an attempt at small talk, and exchange contact information. No one expects you to go on at length about yourself or your business (and honestly, they probably wish you wouldn’t), but you should try to leave an impression. It’ll be much easier to follow up later if you do. The more you do this, the easier it will become. If all else fails, remember that people love talking about themselves.

3. Never throw away a business card.

Someone you met years ago might be just the person you could benefit from knowing now. Or even better, they might be able to help out one of your peers. Never overlook an opportunity to network, whether you’re in the lobby of a hotel that’s hosting a conference you’re attending or ordering a drink at the bar. Be alert!

My mentor collects business cards from everyone he meets. That man has a Rolodex unlike any other. And time after time, I’ve watched him make use of it.

4. Keep in touch.

Consider dropping someone a note that you’re not currently working with. When someone (regardless of their importance) reaches out to you, respond to them promptly. Caring is what cements the creation of a long-term, mutually-beneficial relationship.

5. Work LinkedIn.

If you’re unsure about whom to reach out to, search LinkedIn. It’s a boon to us all that employees list their job titles on their profiles. People seem unusually willing to correspond via LinkedIn.

I can’t tell you how many times one of my students has told me, “I found him on LinkedIn and he responded to my message!” I’m not sure why people who aren’t willing to respond to a phone call will respond to a message on LinkedIn, but there you have it.

Some people act like networking is an unnatural act. It doesn’t have to be that way. I know how much of my success is due to my relationships with other people. The only way for you to get there is to let your enthusiasm for your business shine in all of your interactions.

From Entrepreneur

Counterintuitive Self-Improvement Trick: Study People You Hate

The traits that annoy you most in others are probably the issues you most need to work on in yourself, argues one entrepreneur.

When it comes to self-improvement, the usual go-to advice revolves around role models. Find people you admire and use their lives as templates to discover better ways of approaching your own and as markers by which to begin to raise your expectations for yourself. In bite-size form, this same technique is probably behind the internet's mania for inspirational quotes.

Which is what makes a recent Quartz post from entrepreneur Lauren Bacon so bracing (and thought-provoking). Her advice turns this traditional wisdom on its head, suggesting that a great alternative path to self-awareness and betterment isn't studying your personal hero but your nemesis.

In the piece, Bacon shares her personal experience with a boss she detested, and explains that, done thoughtfully, measured consideration of the qualities we most dislike in others can shine a bright light on our own values, shortcomings, and aspirations. She offers a three-step road map for those looking to try this technique in their own lives.

Step 1: Name your nemesis

First, identify the people that really trigger negative emotions in you. Bacon writes: "Try this: Turn your thoughts to that person you keep running into at networking events whose elevator pitch always leaves you feeling greasy; the columnist whose opinions never fail to stoke the fires of your outrage; the once-cool, indie filmmaker who sold out and started dating fashion models; or the work colleague who seems to have made sucking up to his superiors his job description--any of the people who get under your skin or repel you." 

Step 2: Dig into why

Next, you need to examine exactly why this person irks you so much. What are the qualities he or she has that really bug you? Bacon suggests you ask yourself questions such as, "What specifically about them is so triggering?" and "What are they modeling for me, in a 'how not to be' way?"

Step 3: Face the mirror

The last bit, Bacon contends, is the hardest. Reflexively, when confronted with a characteristic we dislike, most of us run away from it. "Thank god I'm not like that!" we say to ourselves. But while that might be momentarily satisfying, it's not going to help you improve. To get better, you need to do the hard work of digging a little deeper.

"When we succumb to disdain, we transform our worst fears about ourselves into a kind of reverse-affirmation levied at someone else," Bacon writes. "If he's an arrogant windbag, then my self-image as a modest and thoughtful person is reaffirmed, while my terror of self-promotion or provoking conflict can safely be tucked away into a corner labeled 'bad' and 'not me.'" But the truth is, while that guy really might be an arrogant jerk, if that really bothers you, chances are you have some conflicted emotions or fears around self-promotion and being perceived as arrogant yourself. Hating other people is often a flag that marks your own unresolved issues.

"If I have a habit of judging people as arrogant windbags, it might behoove me to take a look in the mirror and ask myself, 'Where in my life could I stand to assert myself more strongly?'" Bacon suggests. "If you can't bear to hear people bragging, ask yourself: Where do I stop myself from celebrating my life? How could I practice more gratitude? Or if selfishness triggers you, ask yourself where you might be harboring resentment about your own self-sacrifice and self-denial."

The idea here isn't to change your opinion entirely about whatever characteristic sets you off. It's simply to become cognizant of traits that trigger strong reactions in you and to take a long, deep look at your feelings about those characteristics. Most of us can benefit from pondering whether we are taking our rejection of a annoying characteristic to a destructive extreme or using it to cover a personal need or impulse that frightens us.

From Inc. Magazine

10 Affordable Tools to Help Online Entrepreneurs Succeed

An entrepreneur naturally has a lot on his or her shoulders -- as in the entire success or failure of their business. Those with online-based businesses have several tools available to chose from that help improve productivity and streamline certain aspects of the business.

There are so many choices available that it can almost be overwhelming, so which ones are truly helpful? I’ve put together a list of 10 tools that are affordable that can help increase the productivity of an online business.

1. DocuSign

If your business wastes valuable time waiting to receive executed contracts, then DocuSign may be a lifesaver. It allows you to digitally send, sign and manage documents securely in the cloud. You can manage all of your document-signing needs on any device, as DocuSign allows full access and management via desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile devices.

Starts at $10/month (free 14-day trial)

2. FreshBooks

Cash flow is crucial for the success of a business. You want to make it as easy as possible for your business to send invoices, and you want to make it simple for your customers to pay you. FreshBooks is an invoicing platform that allows you to create professional-looking invoices, send payment reminders and accept payments. It also gives you the ability to create and send invoices from your mobile device.

Starts at $19.95/month (or send unlimited invoices to 1 customer for free)

3. WePay

You need to be able to accept payments, and WePay is a payment-gateway solution that is quick to set up and allows you to have the checkout process on your website. The company handles all of the compliance issues. No monthly fees and next-day payments are drawing a lot of online businesses to this payment gateway.

Starts at 2.9 percent + $0.30 per transaction (special pricing for businesses doing over $1 million annually)

4. Basecamp

Internal communication is key, and Basecamp is a very simple to use feature-rich project-management tool to help your team members work together. Accessible from anywhere, even from mobile devices, it allows you to update projects, share files, have group discussions and assign project tasks.

Starts at $20/month (no-obligation, 60-day unlimited-use free trial)

5. MailChimp 

Collecting leads, building an email marketing list, setting up auto-responder messages and mailing your prospects is an important part of every online-marketing effort, as is remaining compliant, and MailChimp has you covered. This email marketing tool allows you to collect opt-in email addresses, deploy emails to your list and track the performance -- all while remaining CAN-SPAM compliant. My company uses MailChimp for our newsletter, and we absolutely love it.

Starts at $10/month (if you have fewer than 2,000 subscribers you can send up to 12,000 emails per month for free)

6. Ring Central 

There is a good chance that you aren’t tied to your desk all day, so you need a business-phone solution that gives you and your team flexibility and mobility. Ring Central’s cloud PBX makes it easy for you to be taking calls in your office on your IP desk phone to conducting a HD video call via your mobile device on the go. Simple to use and jam packed with features, there isn’t a bigger bang for the buck when it comes to office-phone solutions.

Starts at $24.99/month (30-day free trial)

7. Dropbox 

We live in a digital business world, so why not make it easy to store, access and share important files and documents from anywhere? Arrived at a meeting and forgot to send over an important document? If you have it stored on Dropbox you can access your account from your phone and send it over instantly. This is a great tool for businesses with several remote workers, allowing them to all share and access important documents and information. 

Starts at $9.99/month (store up to 2GB for free)

8. Olark 

If you want to increase your online sales, interact with your website visitors, and understand your customers better, then consider adding Olark live chat to your site. This tool allows you to see who is on your website, where they are from, what pages they are currently on, what pages they previously visited and how long they have been on your website. You can wait for them to initiate a chat session or you can set it to only target visitors that visit a particular page or perform a specific action, such as leaving your shopping cart.

Starts at $15/month (14-day free trial)

9. ZenDesk 

Customer support is vital, but it can be difficult to manage with customers contacting you from so many different channels. ZenDesk allows you to create an inbound customer-support ticket system that manages all requests, whether they come from phone calls, email, chat or social media. Staying on top of customer support helps combat any potential problems before they turn into fires.

Starts at $1/month (30-day free trial)

10. Sales Force 

If you have a sales team, then give this customer-relationship-management system on steroids a look. It is a tool that can benefit sales teams of all sizes and help increase productivity, while allowing you to track progress in real time from any device. Your sales team can manage their contacts individually, or you can set up a team-selling environment, allowing everyone to monitor and check the status of a particular deal at any time.

Starts at $25/month (free 30-day trial)

What tools do you currently use that contribute to the success of your business? If you have some suggestions please share them in the comments section below.

From Entrepreneur

An Infographic Every Boss Should Read

These all-too-common management behaviors make self-motivation almost impossible.

I've written several posts on management mistakes, but this infographic is a brilliant summary of what how bad and weak management practices can destroy a team's motivation.It's from Weekdone, a startup that builds status report software. I've provided my own commentary afterward.

From Inc. Magazine