People are not stupid, nor belligerent, unless they are treated as though they are children and kept in the dark. Now the Management Teams must discuss their financial concerns with the staff, openly and honestly – and truly test how imaginative, creative and team focussed their employee communities can be. Your employees are sitting in their offices and work places in fear and dread: getting their involvement is only fair and reasonable as almost certainly, given the honest information, they will have some good ideas and solutions to keep those sales – and income – coming in.
I was talking to a friend and colleague who described how in his law firm, the Partners had been approached by two newly qualified Solicitors who offered to job share, rather than be made redundant from the Residential Conveyancing department. What a relief for the Partners (who didn’t want to let these two go) – and what a relief for the 2 solicitors who had worked out how much income they needed to survive but also to keep working (probably by continuing to live at home).
Loyal, diligent, creative, imaginative, and trustworthy people are the life blood of our industries and we need to find ways to keep them employed. Businesses shouldn’t be throwing the baby out with the bathwater: you need to hold on to these brilliant people: old, young and in the middle, this isn’t about age it’s about attitude. Re-deploying, including re-training, or widening the scope of their role to include selling are all viable options. Of course taking swift and decisive action is important, but is making redundant your previously much sought after, talented and experienced staff, the only way to do this?
We have to fight for the alternative position, so help the revolution, help other businesses and people to change their thinking – and offer a Drop of Hope. We are gathering the good news stories of how many of us are working together to cause a Tsunami of Hope. You too can contribute by up-loading your thoughts and stories as a Member to: www.adropofhope.socialgo.com and register your thoughts, learn what others think, and realise there is hope for those who are prepared to see it.