Nice Work: Panic! at the staff meeting

New Event: 2023 Team Reset

A workshop for leaders who want to navigate uncertain times with more clarity and less panic.

May 25 from 12:00–2:30pm ET

Are you a manager or informal leader who’s feeling fried right now? You’re not alone. Teams are being asked to “do more with less,” layoffs have lowered morale and amped up stress, and many of us are navigating shifting business strategies and unexpected reorgs. 

So how are you supposed to guide your team effectively through all this uncertainty?

That’s the question we’ll help you answer in our next remote workshop, coming up on May 25. We’ve revamped and expanded the popular Reflect, Reset, Rebound workshop we held during the peak of pandemic burnout to focus on the unique combination of stressors our coaching clients are telling us about right now—things like: 

• We just got reorged, and it feels like all my ops work over the last two years has gone out the window. 

• My squad survived a round of layoffs, and I know I should feel grateful—but I’m actually wracked with guilt.

• Demand for content design has grown, but hiring is frozen—so now we’re frantically trying to cover more surface area with the same headcount. 

• I thought this was the year I’d finally get a chance to level up our research practice…but now I’m just trying to keep the team’s heads above water. 

If any of these sound familiar, this workshop is for you. We’ll share techniques that help you: 

• Spot and respond to stress—in yourself and on your team

• Work through challenging feelings like grief and survivor’s guilt after layoffs

• Avoid living in panic mode or spiraling into cynicism and hopelessness

• Identify realistic priorities and focus on the things that matter most

You’ll leave with new energy for navigating this moment, and a whole host of techniques for helping your team—and yourself—find paths forward despite all the chaos. We’ll also share a framework you can use to host your own team reboot session—so you can help your team reconnect and rebuild, too. (We’ll even give you a Miro template you can use and customize.)

EPISODE 2

How can I get my boss to have my back?

Having needs doesn’t make you needy. But some workplaces sure try to make you feel that way, don’t they?

On the reading list

Privilege, I thought I understood it
I am loving Farai Madzima’s new newsletter on people management, and I bet you will, too. This week’s letter on reframing privilege at work is practical and immediately helpful. Go subscribe! 

My first layoff was the best thing that happened to my career
Layoffs can be incredibly scary and stressful, but they can also be opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Felicia Wu shares how she moved on, including some really helpful advice for dealing with feelings like guilt and shame. 

“Am I Making Sense?” – Language and Power Dynamics in Meetings
Patricia Gestoso used to be confused—and a little judgemental—when women tacked this question onto the end of their sentences in meetings. Then she realized it’s a technique to protect themselves from gender bias.