10-Second Firing Rule

Shaan shares a story about how making someone cry during a termination taught him an important lesson about firing employees.

"The one time I did make somebody cry is when I was firing somebody. I realized in that moment that he's not crying because he's sad about getting fired - obviously there's that part of it - but he's very surprised. And that's on me.

I was too scared to be clear up front that 'hey this isn't going the way we need it to go and it's gotta go differently' and 'here's what the level is and this is currently not at the level.' I avoided that tough conversation there, and now I'm having a tougher conversation because I avoided that one.

The key to firing, if you learn nothing else, is in the first 10 seconds you need to say the news. Do not beat around the bush. 'The reason we're here today is because we're gonna let you go.' That has to come out of your mouth in the first 10 seconds. If you say anything else in the first 10 seconds, just realize you're being a complete asshole because when it does come and they realize 'wait, what were you just saying?' - you're gonna blindside them in a much worse way."