This is gonna sound crazy.. but ....

You ever want to jump out of your traditional mode of operating to try something totally different. .. This is how the calls begin. A few of my "office politics" moments follow a few fairly predictable rules of engagement. In summary it works like this.

1. You must follow up by voicemail after the first few email communications indicating urgency, because if it REALLY was urgent, you would be calling me.

2. When you first reach me live, I must start the conversation with, "Oh I know this is gonna sound crazy, but I am on an urgent call and thought you were someone I needed to talk to.. so I need to call you back."

3. Go back to the last email, do a reply to all urgent stakeholders awaiting your response that you and I traded messages and that YOU will call me back when YOU get a moment.

4. Yep it really still is important here YOU come on the phone. I will politely let you tell me everything again as if it is the first time we discussed it. We will then talk in vague details about responsibilities, and why this one is not something YOU should be calling ME about.

5. I will then point you to what I know are YOUR responsibilities. YOU will then re-emphasize why you need my help, and will reinforce a belief that if we really talk through this, we can resolve this pretty easily.

6. I will then ask who YOUR management is, rather than agreeing to participate. I will reluctantly agree to check disposition on my responsibility without committing to solve your request. I will agree to follow up. I will not agree to participate.

7. I will then do a second reply to all, this time copying in the people who I am tagging to help explain my position and why it's not "OUR" problem.

Affirmations 4 the Soon to Be Downsized..

You've been notified of intent to layoff staff. You know from experience that within minutes of receiving this notice, people are reacting. You know that you too, will be one of them. You care about your job, you care about your colleagues, and yet here comes a whole new adventure in managing self talk and activity.

1. Simplify to live life in deliberate choices of engaging in the most importaant activity for this moment in time.
2. Living to be our best and most authentic self, requires sometimes challenging why we are doing things, and choosing some more supportive self talk. You have talents that will never diminish due to layoff. Focus on the strengths you will cultivate and the weaknesses you can change. Those fears and uncertain doubts that do not serve you... do not try to battle them, merely move to what you can and should do that is more productive.
3. Mindfulness during layoff notification involves waking to the present conditions for what they are.. to really see where you can and should be involved and useful. To really see that our colleagues, our management, like are selves, are all managing the news of a layoff as personally. Choose to embrace a mindfulness for supportive, gentle and honest self and community talk.
4. Feelings of guilt, of failure, of remorse that cause us to stop talking, working or acting towards our more noble purpose are a waste of our time and our colleagues time. Do not deny the feelings exist, but try not to romance them either.

AFFIRMATIONS TO SUPPORT THE SOON TO BE DOWNSIZED:

1. I am a fully capable professional, recognizing my next great opportunity.
2. I am readily accepting all advantage and opportunities presented me.
3. Each problem has at least a solution, experience is gained in identifying opportunities.
4. I accept myself as a powerful, responsible being, in touch with my greater good.

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