Ron West, author of “Corporate Caterpillars: How to Grow Wings”

By the time most business leaders utter those immortal words “you’re fired” they are usually massively relieved. It is often said that no leader ever wishes they had waited before firing an employee. Most wish they had done it much sooner. But does it really have to be that way? Is there no alternative? Actually, there are five things that you can do to avoid firing an employee.