Article 1 - Posted 23.10.2008
Market downturns necessitate change and like it or not, often that means people’s job losses. As Ade McCormack says in today’s Financial Times, “Downturns provide the perfect opportunity both to jettison value-damping staff and to re-engineer the organisation. This is an opportunity for CEOs to demonstrate leadership in adversity. It also provides an opportunity for CIOs who want to shake off the ‘laptop guy’ label and play a key role in driving business transformation”.
Good point! The question is what happens to the poor human beings shattered by being ‘jettisoned’ – a word, incidentally, commonly associated with disposing of rubbish? And how do they feel if their boss’s parting shot is “You are value-damping”? Management speak beyond one’s wildest dreams (nightmares)!
I suspect some CEOs thrive on adversity, their testosterone rises and playing the tough guy appeals. Stopping to consider the human impact of redundancies as a factor does not necessarily cross all their minds. Not that one could avoid the cut back, but perhaps one could handle it better.
Most companies don’t provide outplacement coaching and in these straightened times, may be less inclined than ever to do so. That’s where a retail coaching product, aimed at the senior managers and executives comes in as a valuable tool.
But what about that CIO, now focusing on Business Transformation as their new role in life? Well who said they had to be at the company with the less attractive corporate culture? Now is a great time for aspiring CIOs looking to drive transformation, to explore the best possible outlets for their talents. Here at Career Navigation, we do just that. Helping you imagine the impossible, dream a little, temper that with reality and opening a window on a whole new world.
