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Last Friday
A recap of “Is This Normal?”
Is it normal to feel stressed about layoffs constantly looming over you? Yes. Is it also normal to have survivor’s guilt after a layoff? Also yes. Is it normal to be low-key relieved that your number was pulled? For sure yes.
Layoffs mess with people’s sense of identity, and it’s totally normal to end up at a crossroads about what comes after. The adjustment takes a while, whether you’re left holding the bag or figuring out what is next.
Normal? Yes. Okay? Not always. But we can at least be normal people about it.
If you have to lay someone off:
Our friends in HR will breathe easier if you just stick to the facts when the event goes down.
It’s afterward that you shift into helpful person in their network mode.
Helpful means specific! Introduce them to someone you think they’d click with and write them an endorsement on LinkedIn.
Don’t be weird and ghost, even if they have some big feelings about you. Offer a follow-up phone call a few days after.
If you got laid off:
The stigma is absolutely not what it used to be. I’m pretty sure 90% of this subscriber list has been laid off and you all are some of the smartest people I know!
I’ll repeat last week’s tip: your next thing will likely come from your network. Get out there and catch up with people, and ask them to intro you to someone new.
And it’s totally normal that it will take you longer than you think
If you were left behind with the same workload and no teammates to do it:
Adjust your expectations for how work gets done. I know a lot of people pleasers around these parts - remember not everything deserves A work. C’s get degrees! C’s the day!
Force the tradeoff conversation, otherwise you “making it work” teaches leadership that fewer people is fine.
“If we’re doing this, what drops?” Your levers are quality, time and scope.
Let the sting wear off after a layoff before making any big decisions on your longevity.
This Friday
The Haunted Go-Round • 10/30 @ Noon ET
It's spooky season! Gather round the campfire and share your ghost stories:
projects/initiatives that went wildly wrong
the day something broke at the worst possible moment
lessons learned the hard way
Down the trail
Next week, we’ll announce November’s event schedule.
Thanks and see you around,
Ashley