More Answers... (10/26/25 Newsletter): Layoff Worries?

Hi Everyone, 

Here's your Sunday Evening "More Answers..." to help you head into the work week-- remember, you can see previous newsletters at https://www.askchrista.com/blog/, and all topics are related to the many advising and messaging exchanges I've had each week!

Tonight’s topic? Layoffs in the news-- and how that affects us.

When One Feels Unsteady, All Might Feel Unsteady (but there are three things you can do)

Layoffs, restructures, down-sizing / right-sizing, brutal firings (without cause)... re-hirings after firings-without-cause were deemed unlawful by District Courts... yikes...

It's not just about change anymore, it's truly CHURN, and the constant soundbites and scale of uncertainty no longer quietly creep in. It's more like multiple announcements every week!!

Even if your job is secure and you presently see stability in your organization (and that stability remains clear on the horizon), no one can avoid the job numbers, economic numbers, etc. 

I'm writing tonight to help all of us, even those recently laid off, to remain focused on the value we add and how we align ourselves to that value as a major boost to our confidence.

1) Empowered by Goals

One of the strongest antidotes to insecurity is clarity, and one of the greatest ways to create clarity is by aligning or re-aligning to goals: your goals and your company's goals.

If you're job-seeking, it becomes alignment to the (enter new company here) goals.

Be clear on how your work-- strike that, how your VALUE-- contributes to goals: your goals, your company's goals, your prospective company's goals. That connection to purpose is what turns mere "work" into impact, and that impact is because of your VALUE. 

According to Locke and Latham’s (2019) goal-setting research, individuals who set specific, measurable goals achieve higher performance and engagement because they see the link between their actions and outcomes. It sounds simple, but it's not easy. You need clarity of your goals and an understanding of how they impact the bigger picture. You also need to remain close to them and update your progress regularly, as though you are your own company.

My recommendation? Make it a monthly practice:

• Review your goals monthly. YES, monthly.

• Make note not just on your progress, but the IMPACT you've made: what value has your work added to the bigger goals? (and if you're job-seeking, this is what value you COULD add to the overall goals)

• Practice how you talk about your impact-- not how you describe your work or work product, but how you changed the course that could have been because of who you are and how you work.

This exercise is a deeply personal one and over a short time will not only enable you to speak eloquently and confidently about the value you add (ANYWHERE), but increases your confidence in undescribable ways. 

And when you understand your value in tangible terms, and then can speak to them in a confident way, you build an internal sense of security that is everlasting. 

2a) Stay Plugged In (and DIG IN, too)

We all feel anxious when we feel danger or doom is about to occur. It's a natural and very important response designed to give us boosts in adrenaline as our mental focus sharpens to mitigate or manage such danger.

But it can't and shouldn't feel constant, and this is where absence of information takes its toll on us. All of us.

If your organization doesn’t provide regular updates, ask for them. Most companies, especially public ones, have communication norms designed to reduce uncertainty (and, to some extent, rumors-- especially for publicly traded companies).

Regular communications also keep employees "in the know" so they have appropriate context and can remain aligned to the goals, upcoming changes, potential risks on the horizon, etc. They may be in the form of Town Halls (sometimes called "All Hands" or "Company Meetings"), Internal Newsletters, and Q&A sessions or "Skip Levels" with leadership.

2b) Non-Company Ways to Stay Plugged In

Are you working in a public company and need or want more information about your organization? Public companies have quarterly Earnings Calls, sometimes called Investor Calls. You can listen in (often recorded and accessible up to two weeks after the meeting) or read the transcript. 

Some think these calls are "just" for the Investors, but for public companies, THE PUBLIC is the investor! As a result, these calls are required by regulation to assure public access and transparency for the status and potential for the organization's success, typically measured by their earnings. The public, as for all investors, receive a portion of those earnings (dividends).

These calls are thorough and provide insights into the company’s priorities, current state, how they are managing any issues, and long-term viability as part of the look-forward strategy (protected by laws that underscore all "forward looking statements" are in fact reflective of future conditions). 

You can also review the public filings, with attention to the Going Concerns and Risks sections. Filings such as the 10-Q quarterly report and the 10-K annual filing (there's also a more slick "Annual Report" you can read; a 10K goes to the SEC, whereas an Annual Report goes to shareholders). All reveal the company’s narrative about its performance, growth, and health (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC], 2024).

If you haven't reviewed 10Q's or 10K's before, it's probably because they look intimidating and have a lot of information in them that may or may not feel real to you. But there are quick ways to review them. Here's an article from Investor.gov for how to read a 10Q and 10K filing, and here's an article from Investopedia for how to read an Annual Report.

We are more prone to anxiety about the future when we feel the least grounded. Knowledge grounds us because of perspective. Perspective helps us manage fear. Managing fear keeps the anxiety from creeping up.

3) Be Honest About Your Relationships

Your stability at work is also tied to relational trust. And it's not just about who YOU trust, it's also about who trusts YOU.

Who relies on you the most? Those are the good humans connected to the contributions you make, the impact you have, and the value you bring to your work every day: your boss, peers, cross-functional partners. 

How strong are those relationships? How much do you invest in their success as part of your own success? Are you a cooperator? (someone who works in support of others' success, even when you don't have a shared goal)

Research shows that perceived social support at work directly predicts engagement and well-being (Halbesleben, 2006). When you invest in relationships, you create mutual reliability in good ways. As such, people know your value, you know you’re not standing alone, and they know that (because of you and your work), they are not standing alone, either.

Your "reliability factor" directly aligns to your self-esteem and security; it may not be tied to your JOB security, but you cannot control everything all the time. You CAN control your own self-security, though. Being known for reliability is one of the most stabilizing career assets there is, whether you feel your job is forever or not.

BOOSTER FOR YOUR WEEK!!!  

(and if layoffs are looming...) 

If the fear of layoffs has you feeling on edge, and oh goodness I've been there many times, then remember: managing that fear is not about proving you’re indispensable. 

It’s about staying connected to your purpose, becoming confident about your value, then talking about your impact based on the value you bring. It's about deepening your relationships with those around you to the extent it is possible. 

And it's about balancing perspective because often times a layoff is terribly disruptive, painful, and difficult in the short term with (many times), yet brings about better paths long term.

** I do want to pause here and express that we are in unprecedented times. ANY layoff during a downward economic cycle and increase in unemployment rates is frightening.
Tonight's newsletter is about managing the anxiety and fear of layoffs if they are looming, but again-- if I can be of help to you, please reach out.**

When you know your value, you can face instability with steadiness — not because the world stopped shifting, but because you’ve anchored yourself to what’s true and transferable: your skills, your integrity, and your contribution.

"... get out of amygdala hijack..." - Trey Tucker, L.M.H.C., M.B.A., M.S.Psy, Rugged Counseling

This week I'm offering a great video from Trey Tucker about managing anxiety about layoffs. I think it will add value and assistance to a lot of people, no matter the status of your company, your work, or your job.

Enjoy!

And remember, if you have a business challenge or workplace issue... Ask Christa! 

REFERENCES

Halbesleben, J. R. B. (2006). Sources of social support and burnout: A meta-analytic test of the conservation of resources model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(5), 1134–1145. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.5.1134

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2019). New developments in goal setting and task performance. Routledge.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2024). Investor Bulletin: How to read a 10-K and 10-Q. https://www.sec.gov

NOTE: Below is the book referenced above. You can ask your local library to borrow them from their network or if you care to purchase, please consider Bookshop.org:

For Lock & Latham's New developments in goal setting and task performance: https://bookshop.org/p/books/new-developments-in-goal-settin...