Crucial Skills

Plus, a free guide for leaders: How to Lead through Layoffs.

MARCH 29, 2023 • VOL. 21 ISSUE 13

Hi John,

A wave of layoffs has spread across US companies in 2023, and it shows no sign of receding. And while layoffs are particularly difficult for those let go, those who remain can be significantly and negatively impacted if leaders don’t handle layoffs well.

Learn how to lead through this challenge in today’s Q&A and accompanying ebook.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue

How to Avoid Adding Insult to Injury

by Joseph Grenny

Our company probably has layoffs coming up. Some employees will lose their jobs, and most remaining employees will have to take on extra work to keep things going. Some of our employees have been in the same position for more than 20 years.

The “you are getting laid off” conversation is stressful, with potential for silence and verbal violence, as well as wrongful termination lawsuits. Our attorney advises that the less said during those conversations, the better.

Our administrators are really dreading these conversations. Do you have any advice for them?

Signed,
Bad News

Let’s be clear—getting laid off is horrible. It fills those laid off with uncertainty. It throws families into turmoil. It causes people to doubt their worth and capacity. And it can spread mistrust and paralysis through an organization.

Leaders tend to consistently underestimate the costs of layoffs and the price they’ll pay to rebuild capacity when things turn around. With that said, there are times when the organization’s survival demands it. It’s better to lose 10 percent of the workforce now than lose 100 percent later.

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FEATURED

eBook: How to Lead through Layoffs

Learn how to hold difficult conversations about layoffs and preserve morale and trust in this free guide for leaders.

Download

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