Post by Kevin Tate

The first time I had to let someone go, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I wasn’t prepared for what came after. It was during a round of budget cuts. We had to eliminate a position, and Betty was the person we let go. By the time she walked into the room, the decision was already final. The Executive Director and HR were already there when Betty walked in. She saw all of us sitting there and I could see her shrink a little before she even sat down. That many people waiting for you is never good news. I said what I had to say. She nodded and didn’t ask any questions. She just looked scared in a way I wasn’t expecting. After it was over, I went downstairs and found her. I asked if she could use a hug. She said yes. I hadn’t planned to. It just felt like the right thing to do. For a while after that, every time I ran into Betty at the grocery store, I didn’t quite know what to say. Some resentment there. I understood it. A year or so later, my wife needed someone to watch our cat while we were away. Betty was the first person I thought of. She used to talk about rescuing animals and taking care of strays. That part of her always came through at work. She took care of Oliver while we were gone and left notes every day about what mischief he’d gotten in to. My wife and daughters looked forward to reading them. She didn’t miss anything. Looking after Oliver, that was exactly what we wanted. Same person. Different setting. #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #Communications