Business > Careers Employment > The Top 10 Ways to Help the Downsized
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Martin Sawdon
1. Stay in touch and be there for them quietly.
Because you hear nothing from them, it does not mean that they are OK.
Because they have come through one bout of unhappiness successfully it does
not mean that it will be the last. Call weekly.
2. Do they know how best you can support them?
Some of us were brought up according to the independence model and have
to be introduced gently to the idea of support of any kind being
acceptable. Encourage those of this school to reflect on what would be most
helpful and communicate it.........And if nothing comes to their minds
immediately, do not stop asking.
3. Never allow them to complain for more than 2 minutes before turning to
solutions.
How many times have you felt positively revived, invigorated and
inspired by complaining? Righteous, perhaps; justified definitely; but
inspired? Positive energy comes from positive behaviours, so encourage
focusing on solutions and opportunities and do not allow them to focus on
misery for long.
4. Endorse their previous achievements and share your expectations of their
even greater future.
Yesterday's victories are sometimes drowned by the discomforts of
today. Remind them of their previous achievements, not just at work but in
successful relationships, in volunteering, health and fitness and other
areas of their lives.
5. Ask about their strategy and its implementation.
How fulfilling was their previous work? What do they really want to be
and do and is this not the perfect opportunity? What are the next steps and
what is their timetable for taking them?
6. Are they familiar with the notions of Needs and Values?
Unless our unique needs are met we cannot function well. Values are the
standards and principles towards which we are naturally attracted. How many
of us organize our lives (i) so that our Needs are met and (ii) to be
oriented around our Values at work, at home and at play? Being downsized may
be the key to a new and more fulfilling life.
7. Offer to be someone to whom to report.
Dealing with being downsized can lead to motivational paralysis or
frenzy. For some it is the opportunity of a lifetime, for others something
feared only slightly less than death. Help the paralyzed to overcome their
fear and procrastination by gently questioning them about their new journey;
help the frenzied to direct their energy into a series of steps which lead
in the same direction.
8. Know and share the value of humour.
Humour is one of the great antidotes for stress. It's hard to be
anxious about the seriousness of life when one's belly is aching from
laughter. Be warned! Continuous belly laughing, apart from probably being
harmful, is difficult to sustain, but we can all achieve the same result
through laughter, smiles and chuckles. What makes the downsized in your life
laugh? Help them find it daily and laugh with them.
9. Do they know about tests helpful for transitioning into new careers?
Myers Briggs Personality Typing and the Strong Interest Inventory with
its Interpretive Report are two tests useful to transitioners. They provide
valuable suggestions and clues about career fields which may lead to
personal fulfillment. Are there other tests which YOU can recommend and can
you assist the downsized in the design of a process for ranking the results
and validating what appears the most appropriate?
10. Teach them how to network and offer mock interviews.
We hear that an amazingly high percentage of jobs are filled via
networking rather than an advertised hiring competition. Help them list
people with whom to network, research the companies concerned, prepare for
their telephone conversations, deal with protective secretaries, prepare
their question list, develop strategy for calls and meetings. Ensure, too,
that when they go into an interview it is not the first for 5 years. What
questions need they be ready for, what questions to ask and who is to
control the interview - again, what is their strategy?
Copyright CoachVille
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Martin Sawdon of Coaching-Works! has a passion for the creation of super-successful organizations - Sustainable Workplaces™. As a coach he has been described as a velvet-gloved bulldozer and as a speaker, powerful, engaging, outstanding.
To learn more about Martin and Sustainable Workplaces™, Sustainable Relationships, and the Sustainable You, visit his website ==>http://www.coachingworks.ca
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