Each clan faces the need to remove or discharge a member eventually, it can also cause a great deal of problems if you handle it wrong. I am going to share some basic ideas and how to handle the situation with a bit of grace and respect. Remember that when a member is removed from your team it affects your current members as well.

Consider your Job.

Think for a moment about where you work, and consider how you may feel or react if a co-worker is fired. I think we all work with at least one person we would like to see fired, but what if it were someone who you didn’t think needed to be fired? What if it were you?  What if the person where humiliated in front of the rest of the work force, what if they were unjustly fired? How does that reflect on the management at your job?

Clan discharges work pretty much the same way. Clan leaders can be resented for over-reacting, being jerks, or removing members unjustly. The team as a whole will feel the impact of the loss of a member as well as consider what might happen to them if they were in the same situation. So, it becomes imperative that you remove members only when you must and handle each case with care and understanding.

Member Connections.

In today’s clans,  members are connected to each other and the team like never before, they are friends on your myspace and facebook page, follow you on twitter, have everyone’s e-mail address, and communicate via IM and voice often. They visit the same community sites your team does and have contributed towards the clan in recruitment and advertising, they may have even helped pay for the servers and hosting.

So keep in mind that when you remove a member your words and mannerisms will be communicated to the other clan members indirectly. Don’t try to fight this or try to create a media black-out. The best way to handle indirect communication is to remain civil and professional to begin with!

Discharges and Returns.

Sometimes when removing a member it can help to provide the leaving member with some “official” statements. This can help to make the person feel better based on the idea that their achievements in the clan have not gone unnoticed as well as provide “concept of endurance” (The idea that their name will live on).

A typical “Official Statement” will contain the members name, rank, achievements, positions, and discharge type. The statement also helps you keep track of member who have left or were removed. It can even help to prevent former members from trying to come back under a different name. Discharge types are typically: Honorable Discharge, General Discharge, and Dishonorable Discharge. (Based on U.S.Military) You can also create your own types of discharges and levels of removal.

Most clans will not allow you to return to the team if you have left before or been removed. I don’t really agree with that…

If a member had to be removed because of rule breaking or some other serious offense, then yes, that member may be barred from returning. On the other hand, if a member leaves on personal reasons, becomes AWOL (missing), or just left for reasons like game-change, PC connection, so on I think they should be allowed back with open arms.

Grace and Respect.

How you handle yourself and the situation when removing a member will reflect on you, and will influence the rest of your team as well. You must remain open to communication with the leaving member and ensure that you explain everything as well as possible. Here are a few tips:

- If the member has violated rules, or caused serious problems bring documentation to show the member. (Provide proof)

- Create an Official Statement, and explain the re-enlistment rules and your position clearly.

- Do Not discuss the issue or discharge in “public”. Provide a personal voice channel, direct e-mail, or phone call. Don’t humiliate the person in front of the rest of the team.

- Create a private forum topic explaining the very basic of what happened, and an official statement to your members. This shows them that they are kept in the loop, that you are not hiding anything, and that the discharge is official.

- Never belittle or attack the member, try to remain civil and keep a cool head. Listen, understand, and respond.

Clan members often devote a great deal of time and effort to a clan and can become irate when they are asked to leave… whether they deserve it or not! Keep in mind that if a person is recognized for the effort they have put forth, they are much more likely to understand and stay calm.

- Hedge

© 2010 TribeHaven