SURVIVOR'S GUIDE TO DOWNSIZING

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SURVIVOR'S GUIDE TO DOWNSIZING
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OBJECTIVES

• Discuss normal reactions to downsizing in
  organizations.
• Give you some constructive ways for dealing with
  the current situation.

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WHAT IS THE CURRENT REALITY?

• Companies are under economic pressure to remain
  competitive and survive.
• Reorganizations, takeovers, mergers, downsizing,
  joint ventures are happening everywhere.
• The pace of change is extremely rapid - from one
  day to another, from one minute to another.

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WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON EMPLOYEES?

• Do not underestimate the impact downsizing can
  have on you and your life.
• Downsizing means loss.
• Loss of colleagues 
• Loss  of how things were (even if it wasn't all
  perfect!)
• Loss of security 

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Downsizing means 

• Anxiety

• Resentment

• Anxiety about keeping your job
• Anxiety about the future and your life
• Anxiety about when it will be your turn

• Resentment that "life's not fair
• Resentment towards the company, leadership for
  taking away what you had
• Resentment feeling that the company is
  unappreciative of everyone's efforts and

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Psychological Impact

• Shock - the world as you knew it is now gone 
• Denial - "It won't happen to me.
•   So and so will take care of me."
• Anger and hurt - "After all I've done . . ."
• Fear - "Oh no!  I'm going to be next!
• Guilt I'm glad it's not me who's going.

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Impact on the Organization

• Low morale, negativity
• Decrease in productivity, workplace tension 
• Absenteeism and Illness

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Expectations

• All these reactions are to be expected and are
  normal under the circumstances.
• It's natural to feel powerless and question your
  own value and abilities
• Management expects these reactions  . . .  to a
  point.
• All these reactions are to be expected and are
  normal under the circumstances.
• It's natural to feel powerless and question your
  own value and abilities
• Management expects these reactions  . . .  to a
  point.

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A Set of ABC's for Handling Downsizing

• What Can you do?
• Analyze What options do you have?
• Concretize  A plan
• Empathize - With those leaving  
• Exercise - Take care of your health
• Fantasize - Try to imagine some possible positive
  scenarios for your future.
• Finalize - The past, what's been, mourn the past
  and prepare for the future.

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What can you do?

• Harmonize - Your life, work is only part of it.
• Hypothesize about what you see going on around
  you and possible implications for you.  
• Maximize - Your work time, work hard, set
  priorities, be efficient.
• Minimize - Addictive behaviors -they can only
  provide temporary relief.
• Mobilize - Move into action.
• Get involved.  

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What can you do?

• Prioritize - Do the most important work first.
• Realize - Face the reality.  
• Socialize - At work, get up and walk around.
• Strategize - Do your best work.
• Verbalize - Express sadness, loss, anxiety about
  the future, anger (not necessarily at work). 

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Donts

• Don't bastardize your work record
• Don't  chastise yourself.  
• Don't  demonize your company and boss.

• Don't paralyze yourself.
• Don't scandalize the company and its practices.  
• Don't tantalize yourself by living on the edge.

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More Positive Actions

• Aggregate -  Collect information for your future.
  
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• Articulate - If your workload becomes totally
  unmanageable
• Appreciate - For the time being, you still have a
  job!

• Accelerate - Become much more efficient.
•  
• Ameliorate the situation.  Reach out to others.  
• Advocate for yourself.  

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More ABCs

• Calculate your financial situation.
• Celebrate - your accomplishments.
• Concentrate on doing the best job possible.

• Educate - Learn about your options.  
• Elevate - your endorphins with exercise.  
• Emancipate yourself from feeling powerless

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More ABCs

• Evaluate - Assess your skills.
• Eliminate - negative behavior while you are at
  work.
• Emulate - good role models.
• Irrigate and salivate - Drink a lot of water.
• Motivate yourself.  

• Navigate these tough times by doing your best.
• Negotiate arrangements.  
• Recreate - Have fun.  
• Radiate - a positive attitude at work.  

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Dos!

• Do stay on track
• Do keep stress under control
• Move into action
• Do resist the urge to be a victim . . . 
• Do hang in there! 

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Wrap Up

• What resonated with you about today's session?
• What might you do differently as a result?
• What is one thing you will move into action on
  right away?
• Thank you for your participation.
• Remember, you needn't feel alone through this
  process.  
• Call us.  Were here to help.