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Life at Work: Getting Reorganized |
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 My wife walked in the house the other night with a 5-page flow chart from her office with titles and names no one had ever seen before in departments no one knew about. She’d been handed the flow chart with little or no explanation. There had been whispers at work about this for months. She could feel the office barometric pressure drop around her. A change was gonna come, oh yes, it was. Out of the blue on a Tuesday, the organizational reorganization was upon them -- new positions, new management, new desks, and new bosses. A new world.
Read the news, the office reorganization is happening all the time --corporations, public institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies. If you work long enough, you’ll experience one. Be Better Guys wants to help you survive the Night of the Long Knives with your skin and job in tact.Handled professionally and effectively, the reorganization, or reorg, is a momentary inconvenience (except for those being, ahem, fired). It’s damn uncomfortable, like sand in your swim trunks. People will bitch and moan, cry bloody murder, curse the people or event responsible for the change and question aloud their parentage. Why? Because change is bad, very, very bad. The fact that change is 1.) Inevitable, and 2.) Usually good for organizations and people, doesn’t matter. This is part of the business cycle, sadness, loss, anxiety, and ultimately acceptance, usually hashed out at the water cooler, in the rest room, in the parking lot, over beers after (or before) work. Life goes on and frequently, disruption is minimal.
But handled poorly, the reorg is a huge distraction and potentially a public relations nightmare. No notice, no direction, and poor communication all contribute to the botched reorg. This was the situation at my wife’s office. People were stressed out because those at the top didn’t communicate what was happening or what would take place and when. Folks jumped ship. Think for a moment: if this was you, you'd feel rudderless, left in the dark. That opens the whole scene up for speculation and paranoia. The head of HR doesn’t have enough hours in the day to talk with everyone who wants a piece of him or her. And the corner bar is doing a very brisk business.
It’s like the fall of Rome and you don’t know whether to cheer or flee the city. Hopefully, your job is safe, but that doesn’t mean you’re not impacted. Working under the assumption you’re not one of those caught in the gun sights and on the blocks to be released, here’s what you need to know to survive the reorg:
- Why is This Happening? Reorgs happen for a reason. Things are messed up; leadership, finances, vision. We’ve gotta fix it. Ideally, reorgs result in better, more stable, more profitable organizations. Unfortunately, some reorgs don’t come from a place of love. They come from greed, desperation, fear, and sometimes just poor planning and execution. Getting a handle on what the impetus for the reorg in which you’re involved will help you navigate the choppy waters so you can plan your next steps and whom your allies are.
- Chances Are, You’re Safe. No offense, but most employees are too far removed or too enmeshed in the daily grind to actually be affected by the reorg, but that won’t stop people from talking and acting all types of crazy. Unless you were intimately involved with the last leadership group or were a member of a pet project for one of the departed, take a deep breath, you’re probably safe to plan that trip to Puerto Rico with your lady.
- Know Where You Stand. As soon as possible, find out who the players are and what your relationship is with them. Was your boss moved out? Was your division targeted? You need to know this quick, fast and in a hurry. You’ve got to gauge whether or not those who got whacked were collateral damage or the intended victims. I’ve seen a few reorgs and let’s just say that when they happened, not many of the departed or marginalized surprised me. Then your job is to figure out hwo and where you fit in. Start talking to those in the know to figure out the new program.
- Drop the Nostalgia. Chances are, “the good ol’ days” weren’t always that good for everybody. Case in point, after a reorg at my job, a handful of those of the old regime were at a birthday party complaining about how unhappy their new lot was. Their old boss was no sweetheart to work for — I’d heard many a complaint from those working for her about feeling a lack of security and her generally nutty behavior — but better the devil you know than the one you don’t. Lose the "it was better before the change" discussion because things aren't going back to the way things were.
- Griping Doesn't Help. It's OK be shaken up by the removal of a boss or colleague, but bitching and moaning won't help. In fact, it could cause you problems. Be sad about those fired, have a goodbye party for them off-site, but leave it at that. Remember those complaining at the office party? Those were the same malcontents who were one-by-one moved to Siberia-like details or departments. Suddenly, they’re like Milton from Office Space, in the basement with a red stapler.
- Get on Board or Get Off of the Train. If you dislike the direction the new regime is heading, then my friend, you need to get a new job. Instead of sticking around with a crappy attitude that ultimately will get you fired, drive this ship yourself and leave on your terms. If you don't want to take the leap and would rather stay put, then you need to accept ithe changes and get with the program.
- Hail the Conquering Heroes. However it came about, there’s a new sheriff in town. Let the winners of the reorg strut around with their laurels, get new Blackberries, furnish their offices and get their teeth whitened. Fame is fleeting and they may well be one of the vanquished soon enough.
So, the deed is done, you still have a job and maybe a new position. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open because life has changed and you, my man, are affected.With the right amount of savvy and discretion and by applying some of the strategies here, you can not only survive the reorg, you might even come out stronger in the end.
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Good Stuff for Better Guys |
 If you smoke (or if your lady does), you need a lighter and
we suggest a Zippo. In brass or chrome, they can be customized
with logos, emblems, or even engraved, but plain and simple is best.
Available through Zippo and at tobacco shops.
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