Sometimes in business you end up dealing with someone that you just don’t get along with or your ideas or processes don’t match up. It does not mean that you or them are right or wrong. It simply means there is just a bad connection.
So what do you do in this instance? Your partner, employee, Freelancer, or client and yourself cannot get on the same page. It is slowing down progress and bringing everyone down.
It is a hard decision to end a business relationship with someone. In many cases it is as hard as breaking up with a significant other.
There are ways to end it though without letting anyone involved get terribly hurt.
Take a moment and breath. Before any meeting occurs, you need to take time to mentally and physically prepare yourself. Controlling your breathing and de-cluttering your thoughts allows you to have a clear head going into what could be a hard and uneasy discussion.
Prepare what you are going to say. Stuttering and rambling is just as bad as fidgeting around. You need to have your words prepared and even need to prepare responces to things the person might say. Don’t use big words or complex sentences. Keep talk as simple as possible.
Be as cordial as you can. Shake hands (or air kiss on either cheek for my French readers) and keep a pleasant expression on your face. Remember, you made your decision to end this with great thought so it is in no way personal.
Always speak softly. Keeping a low tone of voice is the best and easiest way to keep things from getting out of hand. Keep an authoritative voice but do not raise it. It shows anger to raise your voice, not authority.
Don’t fidget. Twitchy movements, fast hand gestures, anxious repetitions can all make you appear very nervous and adds tension to the situation. Tension spreads like a plague in a small room (which brings me to my next point).
Talk in an open environment. This doesn’t mean take them out on the lake for a “chat” like you’re the Godfather. An open environment is a place where all parties involved can feel comfortable. The outdoors is great (not the parking lot). If you speak inside, have it be in a bigger room with high ceilings and a calming decor. Offices and Conference rooms are the worst (yet most used) place for breaking the news.
Keep the same level. When you tower over someone it makes them uncomfortable and even angry. When addressing a touchy discussion, make sure you are both sitting down and are at eye level with the other person.
Keep a cool head. There is a strong chance that no matter what you do and how you act, the person is going to react badly. By reacting back in the same manner you are only going to make the situation worse.
Be straight with the person. Do not float around with pleasantries and side notes. Get to the point after only a brief time. Start by explaining the problem. Explain that it cannot be solved and then tell them, as nicely as you can that the agreement to work together is off.
Offer good words, and gestures. When a person is let go, be it an employee, partner, or client, their first though will be, “Oh, no. What now?” This is normal. It is important to show that you are willing to help them into another direction.
End as you began. Keep it light. Never lose your cool (I know that is hard sometimes) and treat them as you would anyone else. Talk for a bit about things not related if they seem they need to cool down and divert their thoughts. Be humanly to them. They are in fact human.
Work it off. As I said, no matter what you do it could end up very bad. Take time afterwards to reflect and let off the steam you most likely built while in the meeting. I recommend running, meditation, or knocking around a punching bag. Try not to vent at other people. They most likely don’t want to hear it and it could cause more problems.
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Photo by stanrandom
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