Ami Biligiri | Certified Exit Planning Advisor | CPA, CM&AA, CEPA, PMP

Building a Team in The Midst of Layoff and Inflation

Written by Ami Biligiri | Mar 1, 2023 12:27:46 PM

It's no secret that the economy has been struggling in recent years. Layoffs have become commonplace, and inflation rates are on the rise. This can make it extremely difficult to build a strong team - but it's not impossible. With careful planning and execution, you can put your business in a good position to weather any storm. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips for building a team in the midst of layoff and inflation.

Define your team's purpose - what are you trying to achieve together?

As a newly formed team, it is essential to define our purpose and ultimate mission. In the midst of layoff and inflation, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of the future. However, by uniting together and focusing on one common goal, we can achieve something incredible! Our team must take ownership and support each other as we strive to overcome challenges that come our way. We will use this time to make lasting connections and stay motivated in order to ultimately create something we can be proud of. This process may be difficult at times but with perseverance, dedication, and unity between our members, we are sure to reach success!

Find like-minded individuals who share your team's vision and values.

Recruiting new team members in a difficult climate can be tricky, but also immensely rewarding. To ensure you find the most effective and dedicated individuals, look to build a team with the same shared vision and values as your own. Doing this will hopefully create an atmosphere of collaboration and synergy between those who become part of your new team. People have different skills, approaches, and perspectives that make systems stronger together—so it's important to prioritize recruiting individuals who are on-board with your mission and vision before anything else.

Create a budget and stick to it - be mindful of inflation and layoff rates.

When businesses are forming a team amidst layoff and inflation, budgeting can be daunting. It’s important to find a balance between spending enough to make sure everyone on the team has what they need, but also being mindful of spending. Creating and following a budget can provide structure and help anticipate needs, especially during fluctuating market conditions. The key is allocating resources properly beforehand, which minimizes unexpected surprises down the road due to inflation or layoffs. Set expectations up front and consistently monitor performance in order to ensure success throughout all stages of team building.

Train and educate your team members on the skills they need to succeed.

Creating an effective and productive team is essential for any business, especially in times of layoff and inflation where resources may be scarce. Therefore, it's important to invest in the training and education of your team members. Equipping them with applicable knowledge and skills can empower them to succeed in their roles within the company and contribute to the overall success of the organization. By investing in their education and providing support, you can help create a strong environment capable of weathering any challenge.

Give everyone a voice and encourage open communication within the group.

As you move forward with creating a new team in this time of layoffs and inflation, it is essential to be sure to give everyone a voice in the process. Encouraging open communication between members of the team allows them to feel included and accepted, while also helping each individual understand their role more clearly. By having meaningful conversations among the group, everyone is able to better comprehend how their efforts impact the larger whole. An open dialogue can be critical for successful collaboration within a company. As such, being sure that all members here a voice within the team is one of the most important steps in building an effective team despite uncertain times.

Celebrate your successes together and learn from your failures.

It's tough trying to build a team in the middle of everything going on out there with layoff and inflation, but that doesn't mean you can't still have moments of celebration when things do go right. Whether it's a successful sale or someone on the team managing to complete their weekly tasks ahead of time, taking a breath and recognizing your milestones as a collective unit is worth celebrating. And when times are tough, whether it's failure hitting an important project or any other obstacle that comes your way, don't be too prideful to reflect short-term failure as an opportunity for long-term learning. Invite open conversation about how you can benefit from experiences-- good and bad-- and you'll find success for the long run.

 

Creating and sustaining a team amidst difficult times is no small task. Layoff and inflation can make this progress even more challenging, but through increasing awareness of your team's purpose, finding individuals who align with your vision, budgeting quickly and efficiently, providing necessary training and education opportunities, fostering open communication between members, and most importantly, celebrating successes together, you can build a strong foundation that will help guide the team toward success.

With continued hard work and dedication—plus the right attitude—you can overcome any obstacle in your way as you embark on this journey of navigating these economic variables.