Leadership & Downsizing

May 10, 2017

Cycle

• Strain

• Reactions

• Strategies

Strain

• Rapid Organizational Changes

• Overworked

• Lack of Control

• Anxiety

Reactions (-)

• ↑ Physical Illness

• Hindered Innovation & Prob. Solving

• Broken Social Networks

• Lower Productivity

• Ongoing Changes to Morale (2-3 years)

Reactions (+)

• Positive Opportunity to Learn New Skills

• New Challenges

• New Responsibilities

Resiliency Strategies -

Organizational

• Appreciation & Recognition

– Stretched Thin & Learning ‘On-The-Fly’

• Broad Information Sharing

• Institutionalize Workplace Wellness &

Work/Life Balance

Resiliency Strategies -

Organizational

• ↓ Emphasis on Transactional Roles

• ↑ Transformational Roles

• Celebrate Small Successes!

Resiliency Strategies –

Individual

• Appreciation & Recognition

– Stretched Thin & Learning ‘On-The-Fly’

• Focus on Meaningful Work

– Self-Mastery

– Task Focus

Resiliency Strategies –

Individual

• Heedful Relating

• Practice Cautious Loyalty

• Social Support Networks

• 3rd Party Support (FSAS) - Resiliency

Sources

• Amundson, N., Borgen, W., Jordan, S., & Erlebach, A. (2004). Survivors of downsizing:

Helpful and hindering experiences. The Career Development Quarterly, 52, 256–271.

• Belasen, A, Benke, M., DiPadova, L., & Fortunato, M. (1996). Downsizing and the

hyper‐effective manager: The shifting importance of managerial roles during organizational

transformation. Human Resource Management, 35(1), 87-117. DOI 10.1002/(SICI)1099-

050X(199621)35:1<87::AID-HRM6>3.0.CO;2-T

• Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York, NY: Jason Aronson, Inc.

• Gallos, J. V. (2008). Learning from the toxic trenches: The winding road to healthier

organizations and to healthy everyday leaders. Journal of Management Inquiry, 17(4), 354–

367.

• Mayton, S. (2011). Survivor coping: A fresh look at resiliency in the wake of downsizing.

Organization Development Practicioner, 43(1), 42-47.