"Garvin, I’d like to talk with you today.  When are you free to meet for about 30 minutes."

He looked vaguely surprised, but not alarmed as we agreed to meet at 11 am.

Come 11:00, I got right to the point.

"Garvin, I am going to fire you before the week is out."

The look of shock on his face was total.  Garvin was speechless!  I explained that I found his work performance totally unacceptable, particularly as I was now aware that he had functioned at a superior level in the past.  I continued to outline why I was not prepared to tolerate the inadequacies I was observing, hoping to provoke a reaction that would force him to break out of the waterproof skin in which he lived.  

The strategy was successful beyond my expectations.  His face went deathly pale, lips compress
ed and he began spitting out his anger in staccato language.  I got a front row seat in the "I hate you all" performance, complete with graphic details as to why.  I let him continue uninterrupted for about 10 minutes.  As he wound down from the first onslaught, I simply said;

"Garvin, I take no responsibility for what has happened in the past. I’m only interested in making this division function well.  Right now, you don’t fit.  What can YOU do about that?"

His expression registered a brief sense of hope: possible reprieve.   The discussion began to assume a more moderate tone.  Each time Garvin diverged into blame and recrimination I reinforced the "not my problem" strategy.  I wanted him to either assume responsibility once again for his work or to leave.    The discussion finished with an uneasy agreement to see the week out before I implemented my decision to fire Garvin.