| Eventually I Will be Fired and I’m O.K. with It |
| I’ve come to grips with the fact that at some point in my professional career I’ll either be fired or forced to resign. It is a freeing feeling to come to this conclusion and accept it. Please let me explain. In the coaching profession, there are a plethora of reasons to be fired: win/loss record, the behavior of your athletes, player accusations, parent accusations, not recruiting enough, over-recruiting and the list goes on. At the higher levels ticket sales and other “business decisions” come into the fold. In addition, there are “hot button” topics that can lead to a coach’s termination.A strategy many adopt in order to preserve their livelihood is to avoid taking risks. I know leaders who have completely changed their approach to not “rock the boat.” While change and evolving as a leader is admirable, it can be devastating if it leads to a loss of personality in attempt to please everyone. I’ve been guilty of this. Another strategy is to avoid confrontation at all cost. This approach calls for the leader to drop the standards, including not holding people accountable. Accountability can make people uncomfortable and when people are uncomfortable they can become upset. This can lead to accusations and confrontation. Unfortunately, many leaders believe it is just easier to “look the other way” than to fight for the standards. Have you ever been fired or forced to resign? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt you may be fired? Here are three things to consider: 1. You are in good company: The list of elite coaches and leaders who have been let go is impressive: Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Jerry Seinfeld, J.K. Rowling, and Bill Belichick just to name a few. One of my favorite firings was Walt Disney for “lacking imagination.” Clearly, being let go isn’t a death sentence. You can bounce back. 2. “Next Play” focus: In sports, you must learn that the previous play or game is in the past. You can’t do anything about it, the focus must be on the next play. After facing a set-back professionally, the same approach is necessary. Learning from the past is important; however, staying stuck in the past could lead to terminal issues. It’s time to start thinking, “What’s next?” 3. Could this be positive? Change is hard. Most people will not change unless they are forced. The fear of the unknown is debilitating. Being terminated forces change that otherwise would not occur. If we put aside our bruised ego, this could be the opportunity that leads us to starting that new business or working for a company we always admired. Final Thoughts: The discussion of being fired comes with a scarlet letter. I believe many people suffer in silence thinking they are the only ones going through difficult patches. No one is going to post on Facebook, “Met with my boss today. I have this Quarter to improve or I’m done.” We think we are alone and that just isn’t the case. The world needs strong leaders who have standards and values. If we have the courage to lead issues will develop. I’ve made a choice that I am going to be true to myself as a leader. That means accusations and confrontation will likely follow. Unfortunately, this may put me and my family in tough situations. I’ll focus on the next play and respond in a positive manner. I refuse to live in fear and I am not willing to comprise my standards. |
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