The Silence After Your First Fired Employee: Leading Through Guilt | Women Who Lead

Women Who Lead: Leadership, Career & Influence · Oct 3, 2026 · 8m · transcript

This episode of Women Who Lead addresses the profound emotional aftermath of firing an employee, specifically targeting leaders who struggle with guilt and self-doubt after making difficult personnel decisions. Host Deborah Doyle explores the psychological weight that sits in the silence following a termination, challenging the common misconception that feeling guilty means you are a bad leader. Instead, she reframes this discomfort as a sign of responsibility and care, offering a compassionate yet practical guide for navigating the complex intersection of empathy and operational necessity…