In the early days of my career, I had this contractor who was not working well with my client. The client called up and told me to “get rid of him”.
I don’t have the experience to “get rid” of anything back then, let alone an angry employee. So my manager stepped in to help.
My manager & I went onsite to meet up with the contractor to negotiate a mutual separation arrangement. I remember he was quite hostile one. He told us that the client caused him so much stress that he couldn’t sleep at night, so where is the punishment for the client in this? He then threatened to “make things unpleasant” for everybody if he is being “forced” to do things.
Then my manager did something that I am still practicing today. She listened.
She reminded him that why would he want to continue a job that’s causing him sleepless nights, affecting his mental health. Knowing that it might be difficult to get another job, she then asked, if she would be able to negotiate with the client for a 2-month severance payment to buy him more time to look for a new job, would he be okay with that.
And when she said it, you can hear that she genuinely cared for the contractor well being. I felt it. And I guess he felt it too for he instantly toned down, thanked my manager for being understanding and took the deal.
It was a very valuable experience for me that one, witnessing my first MSS negotiations. Very important we negotiate in good faith, genuinely care & exercise abundance of empathy.
Bimbo
