Emotions run high as layoffs announced
“Supporting people at this time is about sitting with emotion – leaning into the uncomfortable, messy, uneasy task of being there for people as they ride the emotional rollercoaster.”
As the public sector scrambles to find Government mandated cost savings, public servants on the streets of Wellington are noticeably downcast. No wonder that news of continued job losses sparks anger, fear, and anxiety as people wonder if they are next.
Navigating the emotional rollercoaster and helping teams stay focused is a growing challenge for leaders, who are themselves facing an uncertain future.
How do you help people in distress when your world has tipped on its head and your own job is at risk? The typical change advice is of little help – sell the vision? Get people excited about what’s ahead? Get them involved? For people in pain facing an uncertain future, it is important not to sugar coat things or create false hope. Supporting people at this time is about sitting with emotion – leaning into the uncomfortable, messy, uneasy task of being there for people as they ride the emotional rollercoaster.
Not many people are practiced at being “emotionally literate” - meaning we find it hard to recognise, label, understand and cope with emotions, even our own.
More often than not we bottle up what we are feeling, keep a stiff upper lip, and box on. This can lead to far deeper distress, (uncontrolled) eruptions and mental breakdowns. The alternative is to learn to recognise, share and work through emotions. A skill we consider to be vital for leaders, particularly right now. As always, its starts with you – you need to put your own oxygen mask on first!
As always, we’re here to help.
Download these handy PDF’s to learn more
Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster
Identifying and labelling how you are feeling (and how others might be feeling) in the moment can we difficult. This is a great tool to open up a conversation about where we are at.
Dealing with negative emotions…
Have a go at this process when you are experiencing your own negative emotions and feeling overwhelmed. What you can do or say when facing particular (and common) emotions in a time like this. Think of them as self-help strategies as well as team support strategies.
Te Whare Tapa Whā
A tool to help strengthen your resilience and look after your own wellbeing and that of your teams as you navigate the challenging times ahead.
