jdean3 - Tales of Transformation

A note after the 3rd major “reorganization” in 3 years of Ford’s U.S. operations:

I thought it was just me, but I was wrong.  I was convinced my personal depression/desperation that existed over the past several months was a reflection of my personal circumstances (injury & recovery, “temporary assignment”, professionally out of the loop).  I have come to realize, however, that I am not alone.  Without naming names or breaking confidences I now know that the potential loss to a company forced to downsize may be greater than most realize!  The shock factor to the organization is far greater than anything I’ve witnessed.

• How is it possible that someone can go from “Top Achiever” or “Outstanding Performer” to worthy of being fired in less than a year?
• How can someone be given a promotion, bonus or merit pay increase or be given a key assignment in a critical and growing component of the company be let go without warning?
• How can a new-hire or someone the company just relocated to another part of the Country be dismissed a few months later?
• How can someone who was so highly regarded the company paid to send them to an ivy league institution for higher education or management training now be asked to leave?

The questions and irony goes on but the incredible injustices that are perceived in a major upheaval like the auto industry has witnessed has dire consequences. Perhaps the greatest loss (beyond the obvious talent that is dismissed) is the destruction of passion in those that remain.

The outright injustice that exist when senior managers are allowed to remain when the real workload talent is walked out the door will ultimately play out and correct itself, but it is impossible to continue/restore the loyalty and blind obedience that symbolized this company for decades.

Along with their financial security, an entire workforce (at all levels) has lost their passion, their support network, their confidence and even their trust.

It was one thing to think it was just my own insecurity and self pity, it is another to realize the loss to this great company is so massive, it will take another generation to heal. Thank God the economy sucks.  Otherwise the brain-drain/exodus would be catastrophic.  The challenge of reviving our zombie staffs will be more than management has been trained to do–there has always been a deep bench of able players to pick up whenever called upon…but now there aren’t even spectators.

Tags: downsizing