Announce Layoffs with Grace and Compassion
| There’s no easy way to announce layoffs. But you can avoid critical mistakes that could make the bad news even worse for your team. Here’s how. Use the right tone. While it’s important to be direct, you must also deliver the news with empathy and compassion. As you acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, don’t be defensive, sentimental, or make excuses. Be transparent about the state of the business—beforehand. While layoffs are always met with disappointment, it’s important that the news doesn’t come as a complete shock. Proactively inform your team about the state of the business on a regular basis, especially when the outlook is bad or their job stability may be at risk. Be clear about the path forward. Frame the layoffs as a necessary element of a broader new strategy. Rebuilding your business—and your team’s morale—requires communicating a vision that will inspire trust in your remaining employees and quell their doubts. Leave room for questions. Be prepared to share the business rationale behind the staff cuts (but consult with HR and legal teams ahead of time on what you can say). Employees will also want to know whether more layoffs are coming; without promising anything, you might share that you’re confident in the new direction and no further cutbacks are currently planned. |
| This tip is adapted from “6 Mistakes Leaders Make When Announcing Layoffs,” by Amii Barnard-Bahn |
