For leaders, one of the hardest things about preparing for layoffs is the emotional weight. The dread, uncertainty, loneliness, and guilt of being the decision-maker. When your work is about doing good in the world, it’s hard to make decisions that can have a harmful impact on others. Yet, your job as a nonprofit leader involves tough decisions. Your mission and the people you serve are counting on your ability to navigate those contradictions.
Naming and managing your feelings about layoffs will help you get grounded and clear-eyed in your approach to planning, decision-making, and communicating. You don’t need to “fix” them or get stuck wallowing. But you can’t ignore them either. Soon, it will be your job to hold space for others (most of whom will have significantly less power in this situation) and you will do that better if you acknowledge your humanness.
Here are three ways that you can prepare. To get more helpful resources like this, sign up for our newsletter.
1. Process your feelings
Give yourself time and space to feel your feelings. Use the following prompts for journaling or conversation with a trusted friend, colleague, or coach.
- What feelings come up when I think about these layoffs?
- What is my worst fear?
- When I imagine myself in a year [or some future after the layoffs], what are three things I want to be able to say about how I handled layoffs?
2. Identify the “why”
Everything—including very, very hard things—is easier to do when there’s a clear purpose and rationale behind it. Reflect on the following questions.
- Why do I think layoffs are/might be necessary and strategic for my organization?
- How will layoffs help us sustain our mission and vision?
- What will my team or organization gain by conducting layoffs? What would layoffs enable us to do?
Eventually, you’ll want to turn the answers to these questions into talking points that you share in communication with your staff and other stakeholders.
3. Use mantras to stay grounded
Mantras help us stay calm and focused. Use a mantra any time you need help getting grounded during a difficult moment or right before you’re about to do a hard thing. Say it to yourself out loud or silently. Write it on a post-it and put it at your desk. There’s no wrong way to use a mantra!
Try adopting one of the following (or make up one of your own!):
- I cannot avoid causing harm, but I can work to mitigate the harm that layoffs will cause.
- My feelings are valid, but this is not about me.
- I will act in alignment with my values.
- People may not agree with or like my decisions, but it’s my job to make hard decisions.
- I am making difficult decisions to ensure a better future for my organization and the people we serve.
- I can lead this process with kindness and dignity.
- It won’t always be like this.
- I can do hard things.
- I am not alone. I have a support system.
What else is in your toolkit?
No matter how vast your leadership experience, layoffs take a mental and emotional toll. Tap into your emotional resilience toolkit and your support system (including your therapist, mentor, coach, and trusted friends) to stay grounded during the layoff process. Grab our toolkit on layoffs for concrete steps and support. Or, join our Making Better Decisions Skill Builder for real-time support and practice.