I Let Someone Go, and They Thanked Me

Jun 20

A Conversation I’ll Never Forget

We were preparing for a termination.
Not a layoff. Not a restructuring.
A decision that had been quietly avoided for too long.

The manager looked at me and asked:

“Can you do it for me?”

Even as I type that, it still stings.
But I get it.

Letting someone go is uncomfortable.
It carries weight, fear, and a dozen what ifs.

The truth?
This happens all the time.
Leaders avoid the tough call because they’re scared. Scared of reactions, emotions, or backlash.
And instead of leading, they stall... until they can’t anymore.

My answer was simple:
No.
But I’ll walk with you until you’re ready.
I’ll help you deliver the truth with clarity and compassion.

And by the time we’re done, most leaders say:

“You know what? I think I’ve got it.”

Because leadership is about growth, yours included.

The Shining Star Who Slipped

Now here’s the part no one wants to talk about.

This person was once the shining star.
The go-to. The example. The “rockstar.”

Until they weren’t.

Not because they were toxic.
Not because they were a bad person.
But because their performance started slipping and no one said anything.

Because they were likable.
Because they were trusted.
Because they were nice.

So the tough feedback never came.
And slowly, mediocrity crept in.
Standards lowered. Frustration built.

Until finally…

“The business is going in a different direction.”

The classic line.
Not untrue, but not the whole truth either.

When We Avoid Reality

When leaders avoid clarity for too long, we start to sugarcoat.
We stall. We spin.
And somehow, the people who care the most end up hurt the worst.

But this time, we did it differently.

It wasn’t cold.
It wasn’t corporate.
It wasn’t a checkbox.

It was human.

We named their strengths.
We acknowledged the misalignment.
We held space for the reality and the release.

And at the end?
They thanked me.

Not out of obligation.
Not out of shock.
But because they finally had clarity.
Because they felt seen.
Because the pretending was over.

The Truth About Compassion

Avoiding clarity isn’t compassion.
It’s confusion wrapped in kindness.

We think delay protects people.
It doesn’t. It prolongs pain.
And when we wait too long, everyone loses.

If you’re leading a team, please hear me:

Don’t manage people out through silence.
Don’t let misalignment fester.
Don’t miss the opportunity to lead with truth and care at the same time.

Letting someone go isn’t failure.
Sometimes, it’s release.
Sometimes, it’s dignity.
Sometimes, it’s the door they needed, but didn’t know how to open.