Comments on: Help! I Survived a Layoff

By: Joseph Grenny

Joseph Grenny — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:03:21 +0000

Way to go, Teresa! You could have written this article yourself from your own story. My colleagues and I did a study called "Silence Fails" (available at our website) a few years ago wherein we described how leaders sometimes go "missing" from playing the kind of leadership role required to prioritize work. We suggested that unless people are willing to step up to Crucial Conversation with them and hold them accountable for this guidance projects and work will go awry. You did was so few do by approaching your boss in this way. Great example! @Teresa Trujillo

By: Joseph Grenny

Joseph Grenny — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:00:26 +0000

What a beautiful metaphor. I could not agree more heartily. I am a firm believer that decline begins when profit supplants service as the real goal of the organization. We get the profits we deserve! @Jonathan

By: Gordon Townsend

Gordon Townsend — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:28:52 +0000

Joseph,

All of the authors are extremely capable and taleted, but of them you seem to be the most sensitive to people and their needs. This is just another example of how you can cut to the core of our fears.

Thanks,

Gordon

By: Teresa Trujillo

Teresa Trujillo — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:35:46 +0000

This is a great question.

I had a similar situation happen to me. My boss wanted me to helm a new “major project” for the large metropolitan newspaper I worked for. The problem was I already had 16 projects in various stages of development.

I scheduled a meeting with him and brought all of the project files to his office. I told him I needed him to prioritize the 16 projects and either kill or reassign at least four of the projects before I could take on the new task. He looked stunned at first, but I explained that it would be impossible for me to give the time, talent, and effort needed on the new task if my current responsibilities were not lessened.

It was clear to me that my boss didn’t have a real understanding of the workload he had assigned to me. The meeting was productive and the priorities were set for our future working relationship.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:16:48 +0000

Joseph, fanastic article. It’s a great way of helping people change from a victim mentality (“poor me…I’m so busy now”) to a perspective where they can take control and make themself invaluable to the organization.

One caveat: while many organizations make it their primary (and often unstated) mission to make more money, there are many others that recognize profit is like breathing for humans–stop breathing for too long and your existence will come to an end. However, there is certainly more to life than just breathing. For organizations that really take their mission seriously, don’t just think about how you can make the organization more profitable, but examine how your job activities can help to better fulfill your organization’s mission. You stand a good chance of coming up with a mutual purpose that will impress your boss and keep you on the bottom of the layoff list.

By: Dora Giraldo

Dora Giraldo — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:18:00 +0000

Dear Joseph,

I always find your articles excellent and applicable and very helpful for the real job life, but today’s it is a “master piece”. You have really mentioned what is the key to be considered to stay or quit a job, I’ll forward the most people I know to keep it in mind in this hard time for professionals that are looking for a job or feel overwhelmed.

Thank you very much

Dora Giraldo (Mexico City)

By: Tammie

Tammie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:48:53 +0000

This article is invaluable. We have all experienced overload and it definitely effects quality. Thank you so much. However, I have just one question: How do you find the time to show your employer where the problems lie when you are too busy to begin with?