Can’t Share the Real Story? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine,  I work in HR in a small company and recently had to let someone go. The process is never pleasant—and to make matters a bit more complicated, the terminated employee was a bit of a gossip.  Now that she is gone, many employees are upset and have been speculating out loud about the…

5 Ways Leaders Can Improve their Trust-ability

No wonder leadership theorists are focusing on trust as a key leadership quality. In an article for Forbes, David Horsager, author of The Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships, and a Stronger Bottom Line shares that anyone in a leadership role can have a compelling vision, excellent strategy, flawless communication skills,…

Transparency and Leading Change: 3 Areas to Focus On

“Thank you for your transparency!” These words came at the end of a presentation I gave where I shared a new strategy—a strategy that would require change, including new roles and some sacrifice, from everyone. I wasn’t sure how everyone would respond but I knew I would have my best chance of successfully leading the…

Letting Someone Go: Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, Is it wrong to let someone go if they just aren’t performing?  I have an employee that I originally hired because he seemed to have real promise. I like him a lot as a person, but he never quite “gets it right.” I have given him plenty of chances to improve, but his…