5 things for leaders to do in a layoff
by Miki SaxonLeadership isn’t always fun, but leaders need to lead.
There are ominous rustlings in the media these days about layoffs and they’ll probably happen—some real and some self-fulfilling prophesy. As the boss you not only have to decide whether, but how.
‘Whether’ is decision only you can make, but ‘how’ is another matter, so here are 5 things to do if layoffs are here or in your future.
- This is not the time that you want rumors flying, so if you have to lay off people do it with honesty. If you haven’t been honest before now is the time to start; if you have been now is not the time to stop.
- Be candid with employees about the bad news and don’t hide behind your lawyers. Explain it simply and be sure that management takes its share of responsibility—your people aren’t stupid, they already know.
- Do everything you can to help those being laid off. Before you call a formal outplacement company consider if that’s the best use of your money. Unfortunately, outplacement staff often spend more time assuaging the executive team’s guilt than in helping the workers. If you do go this route, you need to check the company’s references carefully, not just with managers, but with people who were actually laid off to see what kind of assistance they received.
- Layoffs aren’t about nice words, they’re about real help and you should lead the action.
- Get your entire management team, including you, on the phones.
- Activate your networks.
- Use LinkedIn and other social networking sites.
- Host a job fair on site.
- Through all of this, be sure to invite workers who weren’t laid off to help. Remember that these are their friends and they’ll want to actively help, plus helping will go a long way to offsetting the guilt they’re feeling at staying.
Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: Qtea
July 12th, 2013 at 1:15 am
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