Why do good workers get fired?

The Leadership Insider network is an online forum in which some of the most astute and powerful individuals in business provide responses to current topics about jobs and leadership. Shadan Deleveaux, co-founder of Technology For Families in Need, offers today's response to the topic "How do you bounce back after being fired?"

Tamberla Perry, a friend of mine from college, went through one of the most harrowing events of her professional life a few years ago. At the time, she had a position at a big retail corporation in which she was responsible for diversity recruitment. She was very good at her profession, and she had a phenomenal eye for connecting applicants with organizations; yet, she had zero love for the work that she performed. Her work was nothing more than what she did to keep the lights on and the food on the table. Tamberla has one of those characteristics that allows her to easily stand out from the crowd. In a nutshell, she has some personality. In the course of a single discussion, she is capable of being hilarious, somber, impassioned, and energized all at the same time. Acting, which was something she did on occasion as a pastime, is her actual love, and her personality is a perfect match for it. She used to do it sometimes. The next day, her supervisor brought her into her office and closed a brief conversation with the following statement: "You simply don't seem like you want to be here." She was terminated on the spot for cause. She was understandably overcome with grief due to the fact that getting fired might seem like the most severe kind of rejection. On a more upbeat note, Tamberla has made a respectable recovery since that day, and here is the path she took to get there.

Look forward

The experience of being fired may seem very personal, and it's easy to fall into the trap of internalizing the event and beginning to question your own talents, capabilities, and professional value as a result. Companies will, on occasion, decide to let go of one or more of their employees even if they are doing satisfactory work and are not behaving irrationally while on the job. This is a commercial choice that is made. The decision was made because your skill set is not aligned with what the organization requires from your position at this specific period in time. This was the deciding factor in the decision. It is less of an evaluation of your value as a person and more of a consideration of how well you align with the goals of the firm. Recognizing the decision for what it is and opting to go on to a new firm where your contributions will be recognized is the first step in getting back on your feet after being let go. To summarize, acknowledge the unfavorable emotions and then release them.

Consider all of your choices.

When one is between jobs, it is the ideal time for introspection and evaluation of one's professional and personal goals. Apply a holistic strategy to your professional life by posing the following questions to yourself on a macro level: What aspects of your work life are most significant to you? Where do you find the most satisfaction in your work, and what are some of the aspects that contribute to that? What are some of the abilities you already possess that you may be able to use in a different context so that you might investigate new avenues? Do you have any limitations, whether financial or otherwise, that will influence the choice you make about your professional life?

Let rid of your worries and relax.

Being jobless may sometimes make a person feel quite helpless and hopeless. It's possible that those sentiments of anxiety may lead you to seize the first chance that presents itself to you. This might be a significant error that prevents you from seizing the chance to make a change in your professional path that could significantly improve the quality of your life. Tamberla was tempted to pursue another position at a head hunting company because that was where her experience was because that was where her experience was, but she took a moment to step back, and she quickly realized that it would have led to the same lack of fulfillment that she had experienced in the previous role that she had held. Instead of giving in to her irrational worries, she made the intentional choice to follow her genuine love, which was acting.

Take a Leap

You have the chance to seize a one-of-a-kind opportunity when you are dismissed from your job. If you enjoyed your job, which is obviously exceedingly rare according to a Gallup Survey from 2012 that reveals that 70 percent of people are disengaged at work, then you can only explore possibilities that are similar to the one you had. You might also choose to broaden your professional horizons by following your hobby or interest at the same time, which is another option. Although there are no certainties, there is a significant opportunity for positive outcomes, despite the fact that this may be quite irritating. This is the way that Tamberla decided to go. She quit her position in corporate America and, after a few modest engagements, secured a voice over ad campaign, numerous television appearances, including a recurrent part in Kelsey Grammar's television drama series Boss, as well as a the hostess job for the Illinois Lottery on WGN America. That was followed by many performances at three of the most prestigious theater organizations in Chicago, including Steppenwolf Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, and Lookingglass Theatre, all of which have won Tony Awards. At the moment, she is appearing in the brand new production of Barbecue at the Public Theater in New York City. I was curious about Tamberla's feelings on the decision she made to leave her previous profession in order to pursue a career in acting and become successful. Her answer? "Nope. It turned out to be the finest choice I've ever made."