How to make business sing during adversity

Have you ever thought about firing an employee and done nothing about it? Every business owner with employees probably has had the thought flicker through their mind but done nothing about it because letting employees go these days is a pretty big deal.

It’s often easier to tolerate the bad attitude, cocky nature, or lack of performance than it is to begin the process of firing an employee. Lots of business owners are a little too nice when it comes to having employees who aren’t cutting the mustard or are pains in the rear end.

Tolerating the irritation caused by an employee can go on for years. Bad seeds might be doing just enough to stay on the payroll. They sometimes have a long history with the company, and that “institutional memory” can be tough — if not impossible — to replace.

But here’s the deal: customers are noticing; fellow employees are noticing. Whenever something isn’t quite right, people notice. They might not be able to put their finger on it, but body language and tone of voice often are enough to raise an eyebrow. It’s not their business, so they say nothing. Customers may finish doing the business they came to do and never come back. Employees might start liking their job less and start looking elsewhere.

Business is so much about relationships. Yes, there are products and services involved, but if human connections are wonky, the dominoes can start to fall. Many business owners ignore the signs until the pain is too much to bear. Something tips the scales and that employee they’ve been tolerating gets gone.

I’ve been in business for three decades. I’ve had to let people go from time to time, but I don’t like it. I take pride in hiring the “right” people, so letting them go can feel like failure — and it never feels good. However, it does feel good to align every aspect of the business, so it can sing.

It is possible to make your business sing during adversity. There’s always a blessing to a curse. In the rare cases when I’ve had to let an employee go, it’s been a pain, but we always get back to where we are supposed to be.

There have been times when I’ve put myself in the position of running equipment I hadn’t touched in a decade. Although it took me away from what I normally do on a daily basis, it put me back in touch with what it takes to create the high-quality wood products we make. It also put me in touch with employees in a way that everybody respected.

I think the best way to look at adversity in business is to remember that it’s temporary. It’s also an opportunity to renew focus. If you’re a new business owner, take heart in all of this. If you’re a seasoned business owner, take note. Adversity can be good for business — as long as you’re paying attention.