As tech layoffs are raging, do leaders know how to be more productive? Last week, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai announced he took “full responsibility” for cutting about 12,000 jobs. But how are managers supposed to be more productive working with a skeleton crew? Isn’t that an invitation for more burnout, anxiety, and mental health episodes that will no doubt negatively impact productivity? Dear Readers, welcome to your requested crisis management hit list to remain productive at work while navigating a tough workforce transition.
Welcome to the JMS blog, your hub for actionable crisis management tips to level up your brand.
We are back to answer your branding questions after our annual vacation. Dear Readers, we are ready to produce content that answers all your branding questions to strengthen your time, work, and people management skills. If it is your first visit, this blog is the brainchild of JMStrategy LLC (JMS), a Philadelphia-based crisis management firm that helps brands in free fall strive again.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, the Great Resignation, and the Quiet Quitting chaos, this blog shares practical insights to enhance your leadership style, team management, and goal-setting skills amid any crisis. Now, without further ado, let’s dive into everything you need to know about remaining productive in the face of massive layoffs and a possible recession.
One – To be more productive, you must eliminate busy work.
Dear Readers, busy work drains your team’s productivity and the bottom line. How often have you lamented that you waste too much time searching for documents, trying to schedule a meeting via unnecessary back-and-forth emails, or duplicating work simply because you cannot follow the logic of the direct report assigned to the task?
So, Dear Readers, how can you lead effectively if your team keeps getting bug down by busy work? Why else can we explain all these tech companies that previously hired way too many people but suddenly have found a way to be more efficient after firing thousands in one big swoop? If that’s not the evidence of too much busywork, we don’t know what is!!! Dear Readers, do you see how cutting down on busywork will make you more productive?
OK, but what does that mean concretely?
How can managers invest in process improvement without relying on the latest productivity apps like Asana or Notion we keep hearing about from influencers? Team management comes down to collaboration. While it is true that we all process information differently, is it possible to standardize it so that members of the same team learn to speak the same language?
Yes, Dear Readers, it is! When we dispatch our executive coaching team, we work to build a management framework between senior management and direct reports so that everyone is on the same wavelength. This framework requires an in-depth analysis of team dynamics to unearth any misalignment between the team configuration and forecasted quarterly targets. Once we have nailed the source, we deconstruct the team and reassign duties to facilitate collaboration.
This process ensures that all direct reports understand how their role should fit within the “big picture.” More importantly, such process improvement reduces the information-hoarding tendency that ineffective leaders tend to favor (probably out of insecurity more than anything else) by 50% and double productivity in less than six months! If you want to find out how the JMS team can help you be more productive and lead your team more effectively, do not hesitate to get in touch for a 30-min free consultation.
Two – Embracing flexibility is the surest way to be more productive.
Dear Readers, this blog gets it. A year ago, managers everywhere lamented that they lost too many good people to this infuriating season of #quietquitting. Fast forward a year later when the rumblings of a recession are getting louder, and CEOs are firing employees, even top performers and company veterans. As you see, Dear Readers, managers are still lamenting the loss of good people!
But since deadlines, projections, and quarterly targets are not disappearing any time soon, managers must embrace flexibility if they want to remain as productive as possible, or else, they’ll be the ones on the chopping block! So, Dear Readers, rather than feeling like a deer in headlights, here is your crisis management hit list to navigate these challenging times:
Three – Learn to say NO.
Dear Readers, if you are currently working for a company undergoing a massive wave of layoffs a la Google, then you must prioritize what is valuable work and drop everything else! Yes, it is that simple. When C-suite executives ask whether you are on track to nail or surpass Q1 projections, be honest and tell them no. If they did not see the need to consult you beforehand when deciding to decimate your team by firing half of your direct reports, it’s high time they understand the cost of their decisions.
In our practice, we have witnessed that clients fall into this myopic view of management too often. Indeed, JMS clients will form management decisions solely based on what budget line item it makes sense to eliminate. Unfortunately, the budget seldom reflects the reality on the ground. What looks insignificant on the budget usually ends up being the driver of productivity on the front lines.
Therefore, it’s up to you, Dear Readers, to give the reality check by saying no, no, no. You, Dear Readers, are the only ones who know the ins and outs of the day-to-day work direct reports accomplish to meet quarterly objectives. You cannot be more productive with half of your team. And, as managers, you are the only person who cannot preserve the employee morale, mental health, and well-being of your team. So, don’t be afraid to say no!
You might also like to examine how companies can invest in their employees to address burnout symptoms early before they become mental health full-blown crises.
Dear Readers, we want to hear your thoughts on how to be more productive.
We strive to create better content for you. So, please don’t be shy and share your thoughts. Do you agree with our analysis? Dear Readers, as a manager left with half a team after unexpected layoffs, are you struggling to remain productive? Why do you think these many companies feel comfortable laying off so many employees? Is it all due to ineffective leadership practices? Let us know in the comment section below whether we missed anything else.
As always, The JMS team thanks you, Dear Readers, for taking the time to read today’s publication. This blog shows that overcoming any crisis depends on the strategic management of time, money, and people. As a boutique crisis management firm, the JMS team feels lucky to have the ability to support clients across industries through any given crisis that rocks their daily operations. We want to do the same for you, Dearest Readers. The JMS team loves providing actionable tips to enhance team management and goal-setting skills. So, let’s keep in touch. (TAG contact page).
To learn more about how crisis management support will help improve your company’s leadership skills and team performance, contact JMStrategy LLC at jms@branding24seven.com or (888)476-2761.
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