I was recently asked to provide a reference for someone. This individual is great at what they do and I provided many positive remarks. However, the person who called me was a good interviewer and he asked some probing questions about the candidate. As I responded to one of the questions, I was surprised to hear myself say, “She’s great but would become an amazing leader if she would be fired”.
While my response may sound mean-spirited, I can assure you that it was not. About 9 years ago I was fired (or released if you prefer the comfort of a euphemism) so my comment was rooted in personal experience. I learned that the person I was speaking to had also been fired and he knew exactly what I meant. My comment meant that being fired can teach you things that no other experience can. In many ways, being fired is something that I wish on no one. Conversely, I made the above comment because I have learned firsthand that being fired has made me a better person.
To be clear, I’m not talking about being fired because of embezzlement or some other criminal activity. Rather, I am referring to the kind of firing that makes you sit up straight as your dreams and ambitions crash around your ankles. The kind of firing that causes deep soul-searching and sleepless nights. The kind of firing that makes you reconsider numerous assumptions about life, work and your career that no longer work. I’m talking about the kind of firing that shapes and refines you like a fire refines gold.
Here are three lessons that a good firing can teach us:
Firing does not need to occur in the difficult way that I experienced. I have met three people in the last month who have fired, or are considering firing themselves! This courageous act often stems from a realization of one of the following things: you need change, you are under-performing, your company has changed, you are ready for new challenges or that you have successfully replaced yourself and need to move on.
I no longer mind telling people I was fired because I have learned to be thankful for it. Without doubt, I am a better person because of it. If you get fired, hang on! If you are thinking of firing yourself, keep asking why. A good firing can teach you a lot of things.
Note: In a recent blog I spoke about how Patrick Pichette fired himself from Google. You can access this content here.
Jeff Suderman is a futurist, professor and consultant who works in the field of organizational development. He works with clients to improve leadership, teamwork, organizational alignment, strategy and organizational future-readiness. He resides in Palm Desert, California. Twitter: @jlsuderman
2 Comments
[…] When I was fired by our new president I was given tremendous opportunity to learn and grow (see Why Getting Fired is a Good Thing). But I could not begin to understand this because I faced a wall that told me I was no longer […]
Jeff, I read this in the middle of ‘getting fired’ back in June of 2015 and it gave me some hope that the world hadn’t ended.
I just re read it now and I understand so much deeper what you wrote. I know that I am a better person and have a much healthier view of myself now because if that awful experience.
Thanks again.
Irwin Harder