Getting fired happens to the best of us. This week Sean Foley, one of the world’s most accomplished golf swing coaches lost his job. Tiger Woods sent him on his way. Foley’s response to the disappointing news was ideal and we can all learn a lot from the way he handled the situation.
Foley was gracious, praising Tiger and expressing complete understanding for the situation.
"My time spent with Tiger is one of the highlights of my career so far, and I am appreciative of the many experiences we shared together," Foley said. "It was a lifelong ambition of mine to teach the best player of all time in our sport. I am both grateful for the things we had the opportunity to learn from one another, as well as the enduring friendship we have built. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him."
Likewise, Tiger handled the move professionally, showing that he has come a long way, if not with his golf swing, at least with his maturity. But most of all, we can all look at this situation and see the best way to handle getting fired. It’s an event we never want to experience but it is always best to be prepared for challenging moments.
A few things to keep in mind, based on Foley’s behavior:
- Don’t blame yourself. Instead, try to learn from the experience. Seek to improve. - Don’t focus on it, going forward. Prepare a short explanation of what happened for eventual job interviews, but you want to be brief and move on to discussing the value that you offer. - Don’t blame or insult your former employer. This will only make you look bitter and it won’t make you a more appealing job candidate.
If interested, I have more to say on this topic in another article.
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