Canned or Not, Layoffs Affect Everyone

 Whew! The good news is that you just survived the most recent round of layoffs. The bad news is that your job just got bigger. Your title hasn’t changed and there’s no raise in sight, just more work for you to do, since there are fewer employees.

Here’s our Take Five on how to keep up with your workload when more is being piled on:

 

 

 

1. Keep Things in Perspective — You may have more work to do, but at least you’re still drawing a paycheck. If that doesn’t give you comfort, it should. It’s better than the alternative, being laid off and trying to find a job in a tough economy. Another plus to taking on new responsibilities is that it’s an opportunity to increase your skill set, which can make you more valuable internally and externally.
2. Set Your Boss’s Expectations — Just like David Letterman has his “Top 10″ list, you and your boss should agree on yours. Meet with your boss and let him/her know that you are going to do your best under the circumstances. Have in mind your list of top projects and the rationale for why they are important. Get agreement from your boss on which projects can be assigned a lower priority. It’s likely that your boss is under additional pressure as well, and your approach to your new workload will be one less thing for them to worry about.
3. Be More Efficient — There’s a saying “work expands to fill the time allotted.” There’s also a saying “If you want something done, get a busy person to do it.” Land somewhere between these extremes. This is a great time to look at your job with fresh eyes. What can you do more efficiently? Are there reports that can be shortened, combined or deleted all together? Examine every component of your job — don’t take anything for granted, as there is always an opportunity to streamline processes.
4. Use Outside Resources — It’s not unusual for companies in the aftermath of a layoff, to allow the use of contract/temporary workers to pick up the slack. Even a part-time extra pair of hands can help. Only by asking will you find out if your company is willing to go this route.
5. Be a Nicer Co-Worker — Cut backs affect all departments and it’s likely that many other employees are doing more with fewer resources. Recognizing that your co-workers may be feeling the same psychological pressures that you are, make the extra effort to be even nicer to them. The nicer you are, the more they’ll do for you. After all, you can’t say “The hole is on your side of the boat.” You all succeed or fail together.

It’s all in how you look at things. More work doesn’t have to mean more stress. Just take a one-day-at-a-time approach and do your best. The old axioms in business don’t hold true anymore. Like Yogi Berra said “The future ain’t what it used to be.” Look on this as an opportunity to shine in difficult times.

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
Executive Search and Coaching
www.whelanstone.com

Co-Workers Driving You Bananas? Avoid Getting Bruised!

Whether they’re arrogant, talkative, pushy, time-sucks, whiners, or over-all annoying, if they’re your co-workers, you have to deal with them. As tempting as it would be to go “postal”, the reality is you need to have a positive relationship with them in order to be effective in your job. Sure, you could complain to your boss but that could make you look bad and potentially worsen the situation with your co-workers. How do you manage the relationship with an impossible co-worker – without alienating them? Here are the behaviors that cause the most trouble, and ideas on how to deal with them:

1. Arrogant Alvin – He’s the guy who swaggers into your office and is all too happy to point out what you need to do. To boot, he probably talks loud. Arrogant people are generally very insecure, so it’s important to be tactful. The best way to deal with Alvin when he insists on telling you how or what to do is to acknowledge his positive intention, “I know you’re trying to be helpful and I can appreciate that.” Then kill two birds with one stone. Create a bond with him so he’s likely to walk away feeling good, and tell him how you generally handle things so it’s more a statement about you than it is about him. For example, “If I find I need your help, it’s good to know that I have you as a resource. Generally, however, just like you, I prefer to do things my own way.” This leaves the door open for you, should you need his help in the future.
2. Pushy Pricilla – Pricilla is stubborn and argumentative and generally pushy. When she takes a position she won’t give an inch – even if there are other valid options to consider, she has to be right. The best way to deal with her is to find some point of agreement with what she is saying. This will immediately disarm her and she will become more open to your point of view. Pricilla is so pushy and stubborn because she feels like her idea is being resisted. For example, Pricilla insists that the marketing budget should be spent on advertising, yet you think promotion is more important. She says “Advertising works. It always has in the past and it’s a no brainer”. If you respond “No, we should do promotion” she will launch into 10 reasons why advertising is better. The most effective way to handle Pricilla is to find something you can agree on “You’re right, advertising has worked.” This does not mean you agree that the budget should be spent on advertising, you’re just finding common ground. By offering this, Pricilla will no longer feel the need to keep pounding away at her position and will be more open to hearing your ideas.
3. Willie Whiner – Complainers just want to complain. Willie doesn’t want advice or you to argue with him, he just wants a sounding board. Oh, but it’s so annoying to listen to him complain and complain. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, the faster you empathize, the quicker he’ll be finished. For example, Willie says “I work hard and nobody notices.” You can short circuit this conversation by saying “You do work hard and I can understand why you’d be upset if nobody cared”. You just gave Willie what he wants – a little understanding.
4. Talkative Tillie – Every office has someone like Tillie. By all accounts, she is a very nice person but just tends to talk too much. You see her walking down the hall and look for an open door to duck into. You feel guilty, don’t want to be rude, but have work to do and can’t spend big chunks of time listening to the minutia. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid her forever so when she pops into your cubicle, set the expectation upfront. Let her know you’re in the middle of something and only have a couple of minutes. Then signal that with body language: stand up, don’t let her sit down; look at your watch and have an intensity about you so she knows you need to get back to work. You can excuse yourself and say “sorry I have to cut this short”.
5. Nosey Nancy & Rude Richard – Let us hear from you.   What is your best advice on dealing with these types in your office?

Since no man is an island and we all have to work together, it’s important to try and understand where your co-workers are coming from. When you realize their behavior is a symptom of some other issues they’re dealing with and most likely has nothing to do with you, you’ll be better equipped to deal with them. No matter how annoying your co-workers can be, have compassion. After all, you may fit into one of these annoying categories on a bad day.

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
Executive Search and Coaching

Copyright 2009 Whelan Stone. All rights reserved.

 

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