Coping with conversations about restructuring
Advice and self-care for managers and HR people.
Let’s face it, these kinds of conversations are hard.
The information will be difficult to deliver and, in most cases, painful for people to receive. It’s important, therefore, to mentally prepare yourself beforehand for the kinds of responses that are likely to result. Anger, sadness and disbelief are common reactions to this kind of news.
Although we often feel confronted by them - big emotions are ok. They are natural in a situation like this.
Try not to take it to heart - remember this is not about you.
Practical strategies like time-boxing the conversation will help to make the experience more manageable.
Similarly, avoid having ‘corridor discussions’ or impromptu chats.
If someone asks to speak to you, set a time to discuss it later in the day. Again this will give you time to think about what you need to say and how to structure the meeting.
If emotions are boiling over then it's ok to draw the conversation to a close and reschedule.
This gives things a chance to simmer down. Afterwards, it’s very normal for you to feel emotional about the experience too. This is completely ok. Is there someone you can debrief about it with?
Talk to someone you trust and who uplifts you.
Self-care is also key. Having a daily mental wellbeing plan will help you to look after yourself and put you in a good space to cope when life gets challenging. Use Mentemia’s six pillars of wellbeing to create small daily habits that will have a positive impact on how you feel.
Finally, when you get home why not try to BOB? That’s Breathe, Observe and Boogie.
Deep belly breathing will help you feel more calm, then take a moment to observe what’s around you - really tune in to the present the sights, sounds and smells. Next, put on some music and shake it all about. Having a dance is a great way to lift your mood. These simple physical actions can transform your mood and help to centre you after a difficult day.