How Good Leaders Lay People Off
Welcome to the Leadership Vision Podcast, our show helping you build a positive team culture. Our consulting firm has been doing this work for the past 25 years, ensuring that leaders are mentally engaged and emotionally healthy.
Transition on a team is never an easy process. In this episode, we share how good leaders lay people off. We discuss three high-level tips and talk about some of the things we’ve learned from helping lots of leaders lay people off the right way.
Three Things Great Leaders Do When they Lay People Off
We have three high-level tips from working with leaders over the years. When great leaders lay people off, they get themselves ready and prepare for a transition on their team. They practice self-compassion so that they can extend that compassion to someone else. Good leaders know that less is more and they understand that they need to provide encouragement and care to those who were left behind.
1. Self-Compassion
It starts with you. As the leader, you have to practice self-compassion for yourself so you can be in the right head space or heart space to deliver this message. Self-compassion is practicing a common humanity and being kind to yourself. Practice kindness to yourself so that you can show up and really be present and know that any kind of reaction, good, bad, or otherwise isn’t because of you.
2. Less is More
Less is more really means don’t get yourself caught in saying something that is unnecessary. Maybe you’re trying to explain yourself or feel like you do need to explain a little bit more, but when letting people go, less is always more.
3. Caring for Those Left Behind
Remember to care for those left behind after a layoff. Sometimes, the people on your team who are left behind shoulder more work as a result. As a leader, create some structures or roles to acknowledge the teammates who are left behind.
Compassion in the Midst of Layoffs
In the midst of layoffs or transition, remember to practice compassion for yourself and for others. If we can crack the code of being kinder to one another then maybe we can show dignity in being human and knowing that there is pain involved in any transition point. If we can root ourselves in that space, we can not only be better leaders, we can be better people.
We would love to hear from you about your experiences with layoffs or transition. How did you navigate change on your team? Connect with me at nathan@leadershipvisionconsulting.com.
About The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of a strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. We believe that knowing your Strengths is only the beginning. Our highest potential exists in the ongoing exploration of our talents.
Please contact us if you have ANY questions about anything you heard in this episode or if you’d like to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.
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