The Power of Support in Challenging Times
Have you ever found yourself at a loss when a friend faces a layoff?
It’s can catch anyone off guard, but it’s also a moment where our support can make a difference. Providing a helping hand not only strengthens our bonds but also enriches our own lives. So, how can we be there for our friends during these challenging times?
Understanding the Emotional Landscape
Recognizing the Emotional Impact
Layoffs can trigger a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, to name a few. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and understand that they are completely normal.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by change?
Imagine how a laid-off friend might feel. Recognize they just experienced a professional trauma and they are shaken up and will need you and support to find calm and start moving forward.
Begin by offering a safe space for to express their feelings without judgment.
A simple, “How are you really doing?” can open the door to honest conversations. Let them know it’s okay to feel a range of emotions and that you’re there to listen and support them through it all.
Validating Their Experience
Validation is a powerful tool.
Acknowledge their feelings by saying things like, “That sounds really tough,” or “I can only imagine how challenging this must be for you.”
These affirmations let your friend know that their emotions are valid and that they’re not alone in this experience.
Active Listening as a Tool
One of the most powerful ways to support a colleague is by simply listening.
Active listening—where you fully concentrate, understand, and respond—is crucial.
Most of the time, we listen to respond and active listening is a skill that can help you fully be present with your friend. It’s not about rescuing them from their feelings, it’s about hold space so their emotions can be expressed without them worrying about you and your reactions.
By being fully present, you show your colleague that you truly care. Remember, it’s okay to be silent; sometimes, silence speaks volumes.
The Magic of Simple Words
Words have power.
A simple “I’m here for you” can mean the world.
Use words that uplift and reassure. What words would you want to hear in a difficult time?
Choose language that is kind, inclusive, and encouraging.
Create Supportive Environment
Protect your energy
The emotional toll can be exhausting for you, so make sure you are taking care of yourself. Compassion fatigue can burn you out and make you less empathetic. It’s important to recognize when to build healthy boundaries for yourself.
Creating a healthy boundary might look like lessening the frequency in which you check in, building conversation boundaries, limiting your exposure to the friend during hardship, these may feel insensitive but you also need to protect your mental and emotional health.
Have friends/family check in while you’re recovering. It’s okay to ask for help for yourself and your friend. You can feel guilty for not being their for them ALL the time, but if you aren’t taking care of yourself you can be develop secondary trauma.
Let your friend know you’re stepping back because you need to focus on yourself. It’s okay to step back, but if possible ask a mutual friend to step in while you recover your energy.
Building a Community of Care
Why not create a support group for friend/s who are laid off? A small gathering—virtual or in-person—can foster a sense of community.
Sharing experiences and advice can be incredibly reassuring. Its powerful to know you aren’t alone in this professional trauma. This collective support can be a cornerstone for emotional healing and practical progression. There is strength in camaraderie and shared experiences. Help yourself and your friend by creating a community.
Encourage Progression
Encouragement doesn’t stop at emotional support; it extends to professional development.
As you focused on helping them find balance and start the healing process by being their for your friend, and helping them create a community. It’s time to suggest next steps. . .
Encouraging progressions takes active effort on gathering resources, finding community, asking your friend when they’re ready to engage the job search again. Knowing they might be hurting, self-conscious, scared, exhausted, etc.
Offer Practical Support
Once our friend starts feeling grounded and starts preparing for the next step, you can help in several ways:
Resume and LinkedIn Review
They’ll need to update their resume and linkedIn for their next role. Offer to provide feedback on their resume and LinkedIn. If possible, give them a lift of Resume review by a career coach.
Share your friend is “Open to Work” and boast about their characteristics, skills, accomplishments within your network. This’ll reassure your friend that you believe in them and you support them in these trying times. Plus, most interviews are made through networking, so you’ll set them up for success.
Networking Opportunities
Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”?
Networking is invaluable when job searching.
Can you introduce your colleague to someone in your network who might have opportunities?
Organize informal meet-ups or virtual coffee chats. These small acts can open doors and create new possibilities.
Interview Preparation
Another practical way to help is by conducting mock interviews. Constructive feedback can boost confidence and refine skills.
Have you ever benefitted from a second pair of eyes on your work?
Your insights could be exactly what your colleague needs.
Reflect, Adapt, Encourage
Every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. Reflect with your friend, practice mindfulness and other wellness activities to help them heal.
Reflect on some of these questions with your friend:
What has this experience taught you and them?
How have they grown?
How safe do they feel?
What can they let go and ask for support?
Reflecting on these questions can lead to personal insights and future resilience. It can also help them from overthinking if they are able to get out of their head and start expressing themselves. It unlocks the emotional and mental healing process.
Adapt
Adapting to the changing time, challenges, and support needed by your friend is crucial for them to start feeling ready to move forward. BUT, make sure you are also giving yourself grace and compassion between the support you provide.
Adapt with your friend and your needs, and communicate openly on how you can help.
Encourage
Your help can be as simple as sitting with them while they grieve their loss.
Your help can be cooking them a meal, encouraging them to talk wellness walks, join you for board games, etc.
They may have a tendency to isolate – if this is normal for them, give them space but check in. If isolation isn’t who they are check in more often. Sometimes “how are you really doing?” might not be the best question – so ask them directly.
“What do you need from me today?”
“I am here to help, I can sit with you, we can color, etc. but I am here for you.”
Conclusion
Layoffs are a professional trauma because it is often unpredictable, it can knock someone down from the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy to a state where they are questioning their safety and security. There’s a lot to process and heal BUT as their friend you can help ease their burden by supporting them through the emotional chaos, grounding them with practical steps, and encouraging them to make incremental progress. Remember, protect yourself too because compassion fatigue can be emotionally and mentally draining.
