An unexpected interruption…
How do you prepare for the unexpected? You don’t, and that’s really the point, isn’t it?
The last Friday in April of 2022, I was working to help put the final touches on a merger/acquisition plan; I was in a SVP slot at one of the forward-thinking genomics firms focused on changing the trajectory of modern medicine. On Monday May 2, I found myself, along with other employees, a casualty of the transaction.
If you have worked professionally for any amount of time you can probably relate to the cascading emotions caused by these “interruptions” – disbelief, fear, perhaps even anger. Yet this story ends with hope – a new model of approaching job loss that surprisingly came about, in part, thanks to COVID-19. I share this story in hopes that it will help others.
Not the first interruption
In 2003 I was an up-and-coming director at WebMD Practice Services. On the cusp of turning forty, I felt impervious, with all the trappings of a six-figure salary and a cool title. It was Monday October 20th 2003, and I found “The Package” on my desk when I sat down with my coffee. To be honest, I don’t remember exactly how the rest of day went, but I do remember the emotions. I remember driving around, unsure of what to do, how to explain to my wife and four kids and mostly questioning myself. What had I done wrong? Wasn’t I good enough?
All I accomplished, beyond some emotional processing, was using up a tank of gas… there weren’t any magical answers out there, and even though I wasn’t the only “interrupted” that day, I sure felt alone – there were no social networks to lean into, no personal email accounts or cell phones to call.
The Solo-entrepreneur
I decided to hang my own shingle as an independent consultant. It was incredibly hard to switch from a mid-level exec with direct deposit and benefits to convincing companies to write me a check for “good” advice. Yet over the subsequent sixteen years I built a successful consulting firm, learned to lean on friends and family and had amazing projects with outstanding people supporting some excellent companies and health systems.
Back to corporate, and a virtual way of being
In late 2019, I plunged back into the corporate world as a SVP at a genomics firm. I built a team of highly skilled and motivated folks – possibly the best team I’ve ever led. Six months later, we were in the middle of a pandemic – time to pivot. We learned how to operate virtually, and there were new levels of collaboration and teaming. We struggled with home and work balance, prayed no-one got sick and worried when we did.
Covid, as difficult as it was, forced us to grow together virtually, to learn to communicate differently, and taught us to solve problems no one could have anticipated.
The second interruption, and a new way forward
It’s May 2022… the merger has spawned an interruption none of us predicted. It’s different this time, and then again, it’s the same; the same feelings of anxiety, hurt, helplessness, and anger. The difference is the creative problem-solving and resilience we learned during the Pandemic. We’ve utilized technology to find each other, and face this together. Folks in disparate departments, titles, skillsets and geographies, some of us have worked together, many of us haven’t, but we are sharing this interruption.
The pandemic lessons are paying unexpected dividends
Make no mistake there have been tears, hurt feelings, and plenty of “what next” and “why did this happen?” Yet shared trauma, the need to heal, to move forward and to transition to a new reality, has bound this group of people together in a way even more potent than sharing the same employer and mission did. In the first twenty-four hours, a virtual community was deployed, folks started connecting, sharing resources and opportunities. But more than anything, nobody felt alone and we were looking forward, not backward.
“And so began the mental roller-coaster: AM green smoothie and workout; PM devoured a double bacon cheeseburger and whimpered under blankets. My solace every day that gets me out of bed – strength in numbers. We’re capitalizing on our collective wisdom.”
NH, Interrupted Director
“As this was my first time going through a corporate restructuring, I’m glad I had a great group of people to lean on and to learn from. I love the group we’ve built, where we’re talking about difficult emotions that a reorganization like this can bring, and there’s no shame behind it. They help make this big event in anyone’s life seem like it’s only an (unexpected) interruption.”
JJ – Interrupted Doc Writer
“…At first, I was shocked, followed by feelings of inadequacies, superseded by anger. I stopped to think and realized that these were not just my emotions, but this was the collective “we are all going through this together”. I am invigorated with a new perspective and prepared to meet those challenges all ‘With a little help from my friends.’”
MP – Interrupted IT Admin / Developer
“This job-loss experience compared to a similar one in 2002, but couldn’t be more different. In 2002, I processed every feeling alone and had no idea who would respond to my outreach and when. This current experience is cathartic, inspiring, and instantly social. Some of it is the access to collaborative tools; the bigger piece is a level of resourcefulness, collectively learned accomplishments, and empathy for one another developed through the Pandemic that is driving us to help each other.”
JH – Interrupted Director
“Watching teammates mobilize quickly to utilize social media and the tools we used in our work lives, for our own selves, was so enlightening and refreshing. Staying structured and accountable to each other really makes a difference. For me the connection and bonding are what helps the most…”
MA – Interrupted Sr. Business Analyst
As a group, we believe it’s important to share this experience, and lessons we have learned:
If you’re “interrupted” find, or create a community of people that are facing the same challenges you are.
It’s never “just business”, it’s also personal; respect that feeling.
Band together:
- Engage: find a common, easy to use platform – Slack or Discord as an example
- Share: build a collection of resources hosted on something everyone can access (Dropbox, Google Drive):
- Resume and cover letter templates
- Contact list of “Interrupted talent” with strengths and ideal job. Encourage your team to share this with potential employers and recruiters
- Recruiter contact list and job listings
- Capitalize on talent: understand each other’s strengths and leverage them as a community. One former HR manager is facilitating Zoom calls to share tips.
- Mentor: those with more experience help those with less – it is probable that for some people this is their first job and interruption; they may not know how to write a cover letter or build a resume
- Inspire: if you’re back to work, share your stories and success – it lifts everyone up
For my part I’ve come to realize I don’t have to be on a project or leading a team to provide leadership, guidance and mentoring – in this space and time I find it even more important and rewarding to shoulder that mantle.
It’s in the darkest hours that the filament binding us together burns the brightest… stay in the light…
Joe Castagno
SVP of the Interrupted