Resilience During Downsizing

Cator Sparks, Boon Coach

Change in any company can be stressful and confusing.  While people often worry about those getting laid off, there can be an equal amount of anxiety for the people who are still employed. They wonder:

Am I safe here? and When is the other shoe going to drop?

The ‘what if’s’ are on a constant loop.  To help make layoffs less stressful for all involved here are four tips business owners can do to support their staff:

Be Open to Connecting
Some corporations go silent after a layoff, causing more anxiety and confusion. Instead, be available to speak to staff and hear their concerns. Showing a little vulnerability and visability from upper management and HR can go a long way.

Keep Communication Flowing
As stated above, don’t shut down, instead, open up and share what you can about the situation and the future. Also, support managers and their communications strategy at this time. 

Future Plans
Share the goals and plans for the future with employees to help them see the bigger picture and the perspective growth pattern for the company. This will help with reassurance and stability. Having one on one meetings with staff to learn where and how they want to grow can be beneficial as well. 

Mindfulness
If your company doesnt already have community yoga, mediation, or any other wellbeing activities, this can be a great (and inexpensive) way to build back connecting and trust. Also, offering life coaching to the staff can be a huge boon for moral. 

*For those that have been laid off, offering them a complimentary coaching session, or sharing Boon’s out of pocket program could be invaluable for those seeking some clarity and a path forward. 

Interested in learning more about how Boon can help you and your teams?  Schedule a Demo.