Are You a Leader or Coward when making Internal Transferrs?

I am often asked by business owners, division managers and supervisors questions in regards to employee discipline procedures. Most of those questions can not be answered in a simple blog. However, one particular situation creates a lot of friction, the internal transfer. In a lot of cases the employee may have problems, not with only with their immediate supervisor but also with the second level up supervisor. In many cases this is the second level manager. Eventually, the second level manager has enough and requests that the employee is transferred to another division. The issue of transferring your problem employee is another important topic for another day.

In many cases, second level managers simply sign the orders of transfer  and orders the first level supervisor to tell the employee he or she is moving to an new assignment. In some cases the first level supervisor can not even provide guidance as to why the employee is being transferred. The employee is upset because they felt they have been wronged. The first level supervisor feels like an idiot for having to break the news, and the second level manager looks like a coward.

Listen up second level supervisors, it is not OK to send the next level down to do your dirty work. You look like a coward and the image gets reflected around the entire organization. If you have a case to move someone,  bring them in the office and professionally tell the person the reasons for the transfer.   In the end, you will look like a stronger leader for having the courage to take personal responsibility for your actions. Your subordinates will respect you more and the employee will have a chance to understand the reasons for the transfer from the person who ordered the move. 

Being in a leadership position is not always easy. With the increase in pay comes the increase in responsibility. If you are afraid, or do not know how, to talk to employees about performance issues contact Integritas Leadership Solutions, LLC and we can help you learn these skills.