231. Before You Fire Them: Try This First with Brice Jagger

World's Greatest Boss

What if the person you’re about to fire isn’t the problem… it’s the role they’re in?

In this episode of World’s Greatest Boss, Jackie Koch talks with Brice Jaggars, bestselling author of Two Fish in the Tree, about how role alignment and soft skills play a huge role in team performance. Brice shares practical tips for figuring out if someone is in the wrong job, how to spot soft skill mismatches, and what to try before you cut ties with a struggling employee.

Whether you’re leading a small team or managing a growing company, this episode will help you rethink how you approach performance issues and keep the right people on board.

What You’ll Learn:

[1:30] Why performance issues often come down to the wrong role

[3:15] The difference between technical skills and soft skills

[4:20] The most common soft skill gaps that cause problems

[6:15] What to do when you want to keep someone but their current job isn’t working

[7:55] A real-life example of reassignment that worked

[9:30] Why not everyone can fit into the same mold

[11:00] How to decide when it’s time to move on

[12:15] Coaching new grads versus managing experienced team members

[13:25] Why remote work makes soft skill development harder

[14:35] Brice’s inspiration behind Two Fish in the Tree

Resources & Links:

• Buy Brice’s book: Two Fish in the Tree on Amazon
• Connect with Brice on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jackiemkoch
• Download free hiring resources from Jackie at People Principles