I am in a situation where our organisation has changed the structure. All my subordinates were declared redundant, although some remained.

My position has been changed. Those of my subordinates who remained have been given the same position as me.

How can we work together now?

Please advise

The situation you describe is often known as restructuring or downsizing, or even rightsizing.

It can be a very brutal process, and is as harrowing for the management as it is for the staff.

It is usually undertaken in an effort to keep an organisation afloat in difficult times. Costs need to be reduced and held in check under tight control, and company incomes optimised.

The management team will be working hard to ensure the company has the best possible future, in difficult circumstances.

They will be developing strategies to build a safe future for the company and its workforce, whilst simultaneously dealing with increased workload, finding the money to pay for redundancies made, and manage better outcomes with a much-reduced staff. There will be training needs in many areas.

What they will be hoping for from the staff who have been selected to remain, of which you are one, is that they will all deliver their very best performance, help where necessary, and work with them to secure the future for everyone .

There is no room for ego in this situation. This isn’t about you, it is about survival. As a senior in the department, the management team will be looking for your loyalty, support and leadership.

If you handle this well, and help to lead and train the staff you are now working with, I am sure it will not go unnoticed and unrewarded when things are improved, and you will be first to be considered for promotion again once the opportunity arises.

Very best of luck