Pennies: Assess People`s Value Before You Let Them Go

     We've probably all had to free up the future of someone who simply wouldn't play nice. Next to the death of an employee, it's got to be the hardest part of any leader's job-in fact, it's a lot like a failed resuscitation.

     Nothing else you do demands as much unbudgetable time, energy and focus as a termination. It's always painful for somebody, and God help you if you haven't done your homework. An employee who returns to work after a botched termination (rightful or not) usually has an agenda to retaliate, and plenty of time to do it.

     There are at least three kinds of people problems a leader just can't fix: ethical disorders, addictions and unbridled egos. Like cardiogenic shock, they all tell you that any resuscitation effort will be expensive and ultimately futile. You may as well cut your losses and spend your time leading people you can lead.

     Fortunately, cardiogenic shock is rare in any population. Good people, even people who pose challenges to their leaders, are worth a lot of trouble. The key to bringing out the best in them is to look at them systemically. What makes them tick? And just as important, what's distracting them? A person who is a fine caregiver and a good employee but who has a persistent flaw-like a lack of attention to detail or chronic tardiness-warrants careful analysis and persistent advocacy. A lot of flaws can be fixed, and good caregivers don't just fall out of trees. Terminate somebody like that and you may be wasting somebody really valuable.

     When you hold a penny up to your eye, it can seem huge. You can't see anything but the penny. In fact, you can't see anything at all. But when you hold it at arm's length, you see its real size in perspective. An idiosyncrasy in a colleague can make them difficult to work with, but it's like that penny. Recognize people's pennies, but focus more on their aggregate value as individuals. That way, you'll avoid wasting talent.

     And speaking of value, don't underestimate pennies. Pennies can be polished and they do have real value that adds up when you invest them well. Think that would be hard?

     It's why we call this work.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 35 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is currently the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Contact him at boxcar414@aol.com.