Communications of the ACM
Avoid Getting Reorganized Out of Your Company
Reorganizations grab fewer headlines than job losses, but they are common in a recession, and often precede or follow layoffs. Learning to deal with these reorganizations is key to moving forward in your career. It can be difficult to figure out where you fit in as management changes are made, new work groups are formed, and you find yourself working for a new boss. To survive, you'll need to adapt, while also assessing the future of your job. With that in mind, workers are advised to take certain steps when their companies are undergoing a reorganization.
After any reorganization, make the most of early team meetings. Rather than being timid, ask for details about your new manager's priorities, what he or she plans to keep or change in the department, his or her preferred style of working and communicating, and whether cost cuts are part of the changes. The more you ask, the more information you will have about the future.
Next, take the time to do a self-assessment. Think about what you have to offer to the new team. The focus should be on the skills that have value for the organization, as well as the new skills or expertise that you will need in order to be more valuable. You need to be flexible and nimble in this economy, and that sometimes means doing things that you don't want to do.
From Online Wall Street Journal
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