Leading through layoffs is hard.
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😖 It can be especially hard when, as a leader, you have a lot of questions and few answers.
😖 It can be especially hard when, as a leader, you must execute a reduction plan that you were not a part of building or are not onboard with.
😖 It can be especially hard when, as a leader, you fear change or, even more acutely, you fear that your own role is at risk.
Friend, it is unlikely that you will make your way through your career and not have to face this situation or a variation of it.
If you find yourself there today, I want to offer you a few things that might help.
1️⃣ Check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Is there any fear there? How much? What are you afraid of exactly?
2️⃣ Notice how that fear might be motivating you to act. Are you withdrawing? Are you planning how you might find out or make sure your role is not at risk? Are you micromanaging or becoming controlling?
3️⃣ Acknowledge that however you are feeling, your team feels it too. If you are scared, they know it, they feel it. If you are panicking, they know it, they feel it. If you are angry, they know it, they feel it. If you are calm, they know it, they feel it. You can’t hide your energy.
4️⃣ Go back to your leadership vision. (Come on! You haven’t created a leadership vision yet? You need to call me, STAT!) As I was saying, go back to your leadership vision. Who is it you are aspiring to be? Get clear on how that person would show up in this challenging time. How that person would view the situation. How that person would lead others with perhaps empathy or courage or trust or focus. Whatever works for your vision.
5️⃣ Finally, go be that.
There you have it, friend. Leading through a RIF sucks. But how you show up, who you are being can make it suck a lot less.
Need some support with all this? You know where to find me.
#executivecoaching
#leadershipcoaching
#leadershipdevelopment
#rif
#layoffs
