I had to perform the hardest management task ever the other day. Because of economic conditions, I had to terminate an employee who was exceptional and had done nothing to deserve being let go. It is a position that many managers find themselves in. It was not the first time I have had to let someone go, so I have some experience to draw from. Here are a couple of observations I pass along in hopes it may help you as a manager.

If you are hiring people who will work for you, walk at a rapid pace through the area where they will be working, describing various aspects of the job and work area as you go. If they cannot keep up, both physically and mentally, and ask intelligent questions, they may not be the candidate you seek. I don't know why this works, but I have found it to be true. I manage about a 4000 square-foot retail store and can cover the entire shop, explaining the various areas within it in about three minutes or less. I could probably do it faster, but I can only talk so fast.

Once you have winnowed down the field to a promising few candidates, think about each of them in the context of having worked with them for a few weeks. Were there any annoying characteristices you noticed? Anything that really stood out? If you found annoyances, imaging having to deal with the individual about that action or other annoyance over the course of weeks, months & years. That may be a reason to put them as a second or third choice, or possibly remove them from consideration.

What "vibe" did you pick up from the remaining candidates? If it was very positive, maybe they should move higher in the preferred list. Did they speak with knowledge abou the job they are applying for? Had they done their homework? Did they act interested? Eagerness can be faked, but true passion always shines through.

Once you have narrowed the field to the absolute final few, go back to how you felt about each one. If they were not someone you could learn to care about as an individual and employee, you may want to pass. If the people you work with and manage don't merit your care, either they are the wrong person for your team or you, as a manager, need to find a different line of work.

The people who work for me have become a sort of extended family and I care deeply about each of them and their families. I have worked fairly closely with them for about six years and can tell you the name of their children, most of the names of pets, and the names and something about spouses and significant others. The person I had to let go was like a teenaged child to me. I know we will both move on from this incident and that we will probably both end up the stronger for it, but it was still the hardest thing I have had to do in a long, long time.

People are the heart of any business. Caring for them is one of the many jobs of a good manager. Tough times never last; but tough people do. Managers have to be a little tough, but their caring about their employees and fellow workers should never be in question.