I mourn for tactless tactics. How heavy-handed are some plans and operations? Why do some people feel the need to be so blunt and obtrusive? What does it take for a person, group, company, or organization to not be harsh and unempathetic? Is a bit of gentleness too much to ask for? Do we care more about holistic well-being or the bottom dollar?
Gentleness is not weakness. Just the opposite. Preserving a gentle spirit in a heartless world takes extraordinary courage, determination, and resilience. Do not underestimate the power of gentleness because gentleness is strength wrapped in peace, and therein lies the power to change the world.
-L.R. Knost
I recently heard about an organization that rolled out mass layoffs in a very sudden and stressful fashion. In my opinion, there was nothing gentle to their strategy. Each day, a new wave of employees would receive a meeting invite for the end of that day. At that meeting, they would learn about their immediate or inevitable termination. Even more sadly, it was not only one day that employees had to endure these gut-wrenching and nauseating pins and needles. No, this daily strategy went on for the majority of at least one week. Morning meeting invites and afternoon terminations. I know many budgets are tightening up with new governmental regulations and fundings in flux, but where is any consideration from management for their colleagues and peers who are all freaking out?
Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.
-Leo Buscaglia
There are many wrong ways to do things, and, sometimes, there may be only one correct way to do things. There definitely is only one best way to do each thing. We each get to determine that for ourselves. Apply some gentle and mindful tact to your decisions. Be better than this organization in how you view and interact with others please. Our plates are full, and times can be scary. If we can all be more gentle, then we can all enjoy more.
Every soul, the philosopher says, is involuntarily deprived of truth; consequently in the same way it is deprived of justice and temperance and benevolence and everything of the kind. It is most necessary to bear this constantly in mind, for then you will be more gentle towards all.
-Marcus Aurelius
I am thankful that I do not work in HR. I doubt there was an easy way to handle such a difficult downsize within a company, but I do not think they found the best way to do it. Where is the trust and credibility in workplace culture moving forward? How much will people now be waiting for the next time mass layoffs happen without warning? Do you expect anyone to speak well of your business in the future? It makes me realize how reciprocal gentleness can be. It is toughest to be gentle in the face of roughness, but I believe those are the moments and opportunities to be the best versions of ourselves.
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
-Mahatma Gandhi
My heart hurts at the thought of the suffering and anguish of recently laid off people. To have a job one weekend and unexpectedly be unemployed the next is upsetting. I hope they are gentle with themselves as they grieve and then grasp new and better options. Tactless tactics at least show us all better ways of doing things. I believe that can be carried forward to a fresh new start. It is not easy starting over, but it is worth it <3
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.