The right-angled off-ramp

I’ve experienced several sudden career changes in my working life. In places where I felt valuable and even indispensable, it was unsettling to experience the upheaval of what I’ve come to call “the right-angled off-ramp.” One moment, you are navigating toward a goal or vision with all the skill and energy you can muster, yet within hours or days, you have left that enterprise either willingly or unexpectedly.

I know I’m not alone. In the days before writing this, I’ve heard of friends, acquaintances, and public figures who have all experienced similar distress. Our business world is fast-paced, and employment terminations often share that rapidity. However, the shockwaves of uncertainty and anxiety can be reduced by effective communication.

At the heart of every workplace is a community of individuals with unique talents, aspirations, and challenges. Recognizing the human element in the professional realm is crucial to fostering an environment where open communication can thrive. When employees feel heard, valued, and understood, the likelihood of sudden firings blindsiding them diminishes. This is an area where I see great value in my work around communication styles and robust adaptation skills.

A workplace prioritizing communication will always have transparency as a key performance indicator. Openness and honesty about goals, challenges, and decision-making processes build trust between leadership and employees, creating a buffer against the shock of sudden terminations. The recent well-publicized backlash at OpenAI after the firing of CEO Sam Altman demonstrates weakness in this area.

Communication is never one-way. Leadership must establish dialog channels where employees can express concerns, share achievements, and seek guidance. These channels cannot be “one size fits all.” Rather, they must take account of the seven distinct communication styles we all share. Nobody has one preferred style alone. We only achieve effective communication when we acknowledge and accept all seven styles with their unique strengths and contributions.

Managers can identify issues before they become firing reasons and address them with clearly communicated expectations consistent with the company’s goals and mission. Employees with clearly defined roles that align their strengths with organizational goals are likelier to avoid misunderstandings and consequent dismissals. Clear communication is not just about avoiding firings; constructive feedback also points toward growth opportunities and paths to improvement that benefit both the worker and the organization. Empowering employees to excel demonstrates a commitment to them that will be rewarded with retention and growth rather than termination and the accompanying shockwaves of uncertainty among those who remain.

Imagine the benefits to your organization when your team is aligned with your goals, valued for each one’s uniqueness, and equipped to adapt to one another in the face of challenges and uncertainty. It’s time to build communication coaching into our business plans!