Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Job Loss and the Seven Dynamics of Change

Back when I was a corporate learning & development consultant I used a specific change management exercise to introduce a new course or concept. It was based upon the Seven Dynamics of Change introduced years ago by Ken Blanchard. The exercise shows that when going through any change, whether in an organization or in our personal lives, we generally go through several steps. They are:
  • People will feel awkward, ill-at-ease and self-conscious
  • People initially focus on what they have to give up
  • People will feel alone even if everyone else is going through the same change
  • People can handle only so much change
  • People are at different levels of readiness for change
  • People will be concerned that they don't have enough resources
  • If you take the pressure off, people will revert to their old behavior
I felt these steps when I lost my own job. Whether for cause, At-Will and even if you’ve been meaning to leave your job, the following seven Dynamics of Change will most likely sneak into your thoughts.
  1. People will feel awkward, ill-at-ease and self-conscious. You may have been let go for cause or part of the wave to downsize a department or organization yet the feeling of being in the spotlight and feeling self-conscious remains and you take it personally. You may immediately think what their friends and family will think.
  2. People initially focus on what they have to give up. Like any loss, when you lose your job you immediately think of the intrinsic things that are removed. Things like salary, benefits, 401K or savings programs may come to mind. There is also job security, the work itself, the routine and the friendships that have been cut off.
  3. People will feel alone even if everyone else is going through the same change. Everyone handles things differently so even though a group of people may have been let go, each one will have different needs and feelings. It’s only natural to ask, “Why me?” and “No one understands what I am going through.”
  4. People can handle only so much change. With a job loss comes a change in lifestyle and the stressors of life becomes harder to bear. Not only have you lost your job but you lost your routine. Put that routine/habit to work as a job search routine.
  5. People are at different levels of readiness for change: Some people are up for a new career and some not. Whatever your readiness level, accept it but don’t stay stuck.
  6. People will be concerned that they don't have enough resources: It’s natural to worry about finances, payments and the future. Non-essentials are put on the back burner and that might disappoint your family or friends. What about your resume? You may worry about re-creating and having enough accomplishments to support your past position.
  7. If you take the pressure off, people will revert to their old behavior: Your old job search methods (emailing resumes or applying to websites) won’t always work. On the surface, these steps may give you a sense of accomplishment but in the long run they are not as effective as networking and face to face interaction. It’s always been about who you know rather than what you know so now it is even more important than ever to network. Also, your old resume format has changed. Make sure you tailor your resume and cover letter to each position. Don't fall back on the same-old/same-old. It matters.

Losing a job is difficult and while it is common to grieve and feel many of the emotions listed above, it is also a time for reflection and reconnecting.  If you are having trouble adjusting and moving forward, try reaching out to a friend, family member or profession

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