During times of significant organizational change such as downsizing and layoffs
ID: 370236 • Letter: D
Question
During times of significant organizational change such as downsizing and layoffs, the grapevine becomes more active as anxious employees share organizational news and rumors. As a manager, what communication strategies would you employ during a time of uncertainty in the workplace? What are the advantages and disadvantages of gossip during time of uncertainty? During times of significant organizational change such as downsizing and layoffs, the grapevine becomes more active as anxious employees share organizational news and rumors. As a manager, what communication strategies would you employ during a time of uncertainty in the workplace? What are the advantages and disadvantages of gossip during time of uncertainty?Explanation / Answer
During times of significant organizational change such as downsizing and layoffs, the communication strategy for change becomes very important. It is the strategy employed by organizations which pays a very key role in ensuring that the ball is not dropped in terms of delivery and performance Firstly, as a manager, I would ensure that I have full clarity on what's going to happen, and how the change is going to affect the employees below me. How is it going to affect the various teams which are in place. These are questions to which I would first seek answers. Next, I would ensure regular townhalls and open sessions are conducted. For instance, if there is an entire country under me, I would ensure that there is a monthly update in the form of a townhall where I update all the employees with clarity on the new structure which the organization is trying to push through. If there are any layoffs, the strategy for communicating would be different - I would call in the affect employees individually and have a chat with them. It is bound to be painful, but eventually the greater good of the company has to be looked at. any communication regarding layoffs would be done one to one. Regarding gossip, the only perceivable advantage is that it fosters some sort of relationship and bond between employees - they gather together and start gossiping over a cup of coffee. This enables better bonding over time. However, the disadvantages are that false information can start spreading rapidly, or information can start reaching unintended recipients, thereby affecting or even stalling work. This is highly dangerous and toxic, both for the individual and the company. In these situations, it is very crucial for the information to flow to the right people at the right time - gossip completely negates this aspect.
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