Giving people bad news

"Can you please call Mr. Jones to the office, thank you" says the Manager (who shall by all means stay universal and only be known as The Manager)

Mr. Jones walks into the office with some trepidation, nervously shuts the door and just stands there.  

"Sit down, Mr. Jones.", says The Manager.  "As you know, from the conversations we've had before, we agreed that we would give you some time to adjust and make some changes in your work.  How do you think you faired?" , says The Manager, sits down on his over priced leather chair and waits patiently.

"I don't know, I guess I've tried my best to perform my duties and fit in.  I think I deserve to be where I am.", says Mr. Jones with, what he didn't know at the time, false hope that everything would be fine.

"What about all the mistakes you still keep making?", asks the Manager, thereby killing the hope in it's tracks.

No answer.

"I am sorry Mr. Jones, we have decided to implement a few changes around the office and unfortunately we have decided to let you go.", says the Manager with a flat, strong voice, getting up at the same time to show the finality of the decision.

"You can stay here for a month, while you look for another job." he added.

............... That's pretty much how the story goes.  It isn't pretty, it isn't comfortable and it isn't supposed to be.  If we observe this conversation from the point of view of The Manager.  He is no doubt a professional but he is either a cold hearted managing machine who is performing his duties or he is an empathic leader who has the unfortunate task of giving someone the bad news. Which one are you?

It surely is the worst thing about jobs in Management, the situations where you have to police, where you have to punish, situations where you have to act accordingly and harshly, because that is your job.  Analyse, evaluate, look at all the options and decide.

Often you are deciding about people's lives.

From the point of view of Mr. Jones, who probably isn't even a bad person, who probably has but one thought in his head which is "What do I tell Mrs. Jones when I get back home??"  

With more experience, especially with more experience in managing people, hiring them, firing them, you build up a certain stance which you use in these situations, you have a certain way of acting, you have a certain pose, you have a certain voice you use.  You end up playing a role.  Which is the only way, in the end, if you want to keep your professionalism. 

However and no matter what, after it, you always end up with a bitter taste in your mouth.

But that's just the cost of doing business. 

And it is the only way you should look at it.  You are not the bad guy; you are just doing your job.