Ducking & Dodging the “Tone Shift”: Your Playbook
So, what’s an employee to do when leadership makes the “tone shift,” acting like trust is a four-letter word? You can’t prevent a reduction-in-force, but you can control your own actions. Let’s talk preparation and resilience.
Here’s how to proactively armor up and build your professional fort:
- Be Seen & Heard, Strategically: Stop being a quiet contributor. Get visible through stakeholder management and regular, documented communication. This transparency not only proves your worth but also builds a tangible record for your resume.
- Network Like a Boss & Never Stop Learning: Your company’s Employee Resource Groups aren’t just for show. Lean into them. Network, build community, and take advantage of professional development opportunities. Track your new capabilities on LinkedIn, and then apply those bad boys on the job.
- Marry Your Metrics: Face it, some part of your work ties directly to company metrics. Get intimate with those numbers. Understand your contribution, even if it’s indirect. And on a personal level, start tracking your own metrics—the volume, the outcomes, the impact. This data is gold for performance reviews and any future job applications.
- Be a Recruiter Magnet: The job market is a constantly churning beast. While you don’t need to be constantly job hunting (especially if you’re in a good spot), you absolutely must keep your LinkedIn profile polished. This isn’t about looking; it’s about being found. Define your “dream job” so when recruiters come knocking, you know when to engage and when to send a polite “no thanks.”
It may go without saying, but sometimes you just have to ignore “the noise” from on high while “they” work through their issues so that you can stay focused on your job and doing your part.
I’m leveraging a popular mantra as I see these headlines: this too shall pass.
So build your professional fort, and let’s all go forward strategically so we’re as prepared as we can be for whatever comes next.
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This article appeared in the May 20, 2025 issue of Unscripted Strategy. Subscribe on the form below to receive the newsletter in your inbox every Tuesday.
