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Coping with downsizing
In today's competitive market, many companies have found that staying in business means downsizing. Employers and employees no longer believe in the concept of lifetime employment. Downsizing your workforce can be an overwhelming task for Human Resource specialists and managers alike. It often requires skills, expertise, and resources, which are not readily available within the agency.
In today's climate of downsizing, demoralization of the work force; increased worker turnover; decreased cooperation and teamwork; and increased levels of stress, anxiety, absenteeism, illness, and mistakes can follow. Let us discuss how to cope with the changes that accompany downsizing:
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR CHANGE: Many people fear change; you can easily understand how today's pace of change can be stressful for many employees. Like successful professional athletic teams, most businesses today must continually make changes to remain competitive
EXPRESS EMOTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE: When change does occur, don't pretend it isn't painful. Change can bring new opportunities for personal growth, accomplishment, and organizational success. But it also causes feelings of sadness, loss, and anxiety about the future. These are normal human responses. You should always express your emotions at the time of change.
WATCH OUT FOR UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: Unrealistic expectations can be a source of stress and unnecessary suffering. Unfortunately, when organizations undergo downsizing, restructurings, or other major changes, a whole host of unhealthy, unreasonable expectations frequently arise.
BECOME MORE EFFICIENT: In addition to increasing your value to the company, you'll need to find ways to become more efficient. As organizations change and evolve over time, improvements in efficiency almost always coincide.
NEVER BECOME COMPLACENT: Once you've survived and successfully adjusted to a major organizational change, avoid the trap of becoming complacent. Future changes will probably occur, and you should be prepared for them emotionally, physically, and also financially
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