Going down in flames...

As you read this, you may disagree with me allowing the Pretender to stay employed. It wasn’t an easy move, but I will say this. It took more for me to keep him on, than it would have been to term him. His separation did represent the path of least resistance, and would have been the easiest move . I've also learned that the easiest move might not be the best move.

With that being said, this guy’s level of influence was great enough with the floor (again, they loved this guy) that his “miss-understood” termination, would have set us back months not to mention he represented the lesser of the evils. I use the term "misunderstood" because it is inappropriate to discuss any circumstances regarding suspensions or terminations. He also had another thing going for him. If I termed him, I had no one to fill his shoes and there was not an extra hour left in the day that I could give to Call Center, USA.

His peers (most of them) and the call-floor greeted him with open arms upon his return, as I greeted him with cautious optimism. I wasn’t sure if I made the right move keeping him on board.

My optimism soon turned for the worse as I saw the Protector plain and simply fail to execute. I witnessed a total lack of initiative, and the absence of an effective decision making process. I was holding this guys feet to the fire and it was as if he couldn’t feel the heat.

During one of my moments of disbelief, I watched him go to his desk (which is in the middle of the call floor) and open a newspaper. I don’t mean it was folded up on his desk and he was discreetly reading it. This thing was spread full-eagle, with words dibbling down the full expanse of the paper. From header to footer, it to me represented either an act of defiance, or pure stupidity.

I called him into my office, and asked him what he thought he was doing. I told him that after the “strain” in our relationship (his two week suspension), that I would see more effort not less.

I told him that if he had it, I needed it, and bring it on..

He agreed, and hit the floor. I could tell that while I was ready to move on, he wasn't. After that conversation, I could tell that he was truly defeated after his close encounter with his termination. I’ve seen it a hundred times.. People make a wrong move, or are held accountable, and their ego become so bruised, they are not able to recover. All confidence is gone, and they spiral out of control, as they count the days until they are termed….

He was crashing and burning before my eyes… All I could do was empower him, drink to second chances, but the recovery was up to him.

I’ve done my piece but now I both needed and expected results. I tried to help, but it only seemed to fan the flames…