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Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building
Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building
Change Management Consulting, Organizational Development, Training, Facilitating, Facilitation, Kor, Nahla Kor, Nala Kor, Transitions, Mergers, Restructure, Productivity, Consulting, Management, Design, Acquisitions, Teams, Teambuilding, Team Building

After the Downsizing: Healing the Wounds

Any major life change, be it planned or unexpected, can be very stressful. Job loss is high on the list of stressful life events. This type of change, one that touches us on a very deep and personal level, is usually accompanied by intense feelings of shock, anger, frustration, betrayal, and disbelief. These are typical reactions, but very painful ones nonetheless.
Despite this, the majority of people will eventually move on to find comparable or better jobs than the ones they left, start a new business venture, go back to school, stay at home to be with their families, or even take early retirement. Many will often say that it was the best thing that ever happened to them because they wouldn't have dared venture into a new direction had the decision not been made for them.
How did they get past the hurt, fear, anger, and even the humiliation of job loss?

Managing the Transition

The transition period can be described as that ethereal place in the middle where you are caught between two trapezes, knowing the trapeze you just released has swung back and the next one may be in sight but out of reach. Ironically, it is in that period of suspended waiting where healing the wounds occurs. Although it is a period of uncertainty, concern, anxiety and even fear, it can also be a period or great self-discovery and exploration. It is in that state people finally permit themselves to dream about the possibilities, about exploring their talents in ways heretofore unexplored. They delight in trying new things, meeting new people, shifting from a breakneck pace and insane schedules, and stopping to enjoy their families, hobbies and interests. The transition journey to new beginnings can be slow, fast, short or long, and can regress several times depending on how people choose to cope with their situation.
People in transition can expect to experience:
  • Loss of confidence
  • Feelings of isolation
  • Lack of purpose
  • Loss of hope
  • Varying levels of depression
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
The difference from one person's experience to another is how they choose to deal with these feelings and where they channel their focus and energy.
People who have successfully navigated the unpredictable turns, bumps and obstacles along their career journey demonstrate the following successful qualities and behaviors.
They:
  • Quickly lose the victim attitude, accepting their circumstance for what it is and look ahead rather than back.
  • Surround themselves with people who are good for them - friends, family, colleagues and new acquaintances who can help them focus on future possibilities.
  • Seek guidance and coaching from career professionals.
  • Maintain an optimistic view even when things look bleak, recognizing that things will turn around again.
  • Keep busy by setting personal and professional goals and take small and courageous steps to achieve them.
  • Join associations, network, become active in their community and reconnect with people they may have lost touch with over time.
  • Go back to school, learn new skills, and explore different jobs or careers.
  • Take time to deeply reflect and explore their options rather than jump at the first job offer that comes their way.
  • Develop greater compassion for people experiencing hard times and reach out to offer support. They help themselves while in support of others.
They soon discover that the wounds do heal and, not only did they survive, they are stronger for the experience. The successes they realize doing even a few of these things boost their confidence and give them more courage to strive for even greater things.
Few of us have not been touched by job loss, either personally or through someone we know well. In fact, it is our new reality being confronted with obsolescent technologies and business practices, automation, amalgamations, global competition and economic challenges.
Only by:
  • Recognizing and accepting the gamut of emotions we experience following major life changes,
  • Acknowledging the end of something, and most importantly,
  • Managing the transition and looking optimistically to the future do we grow strong as individuals.
Coincidentally and beneficially, this also makes us more compassionate as a society.
If you would like to learn more about how Kor Capabilities Consulting can help your organization manage through change, please contact us.
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