Retrenchment Coaching
What would you like to know or do about Retrenchment Coaching?
Media coverage
Article in "Beeld" newspaper of 22 December 2008 (Language: Afrikaans)
Article in "Rapport" newspaper of 9 January 2009 (Language: Afrikaans) Alternative image here.
What is Retrenchment?
Retrenchment is normally a traumatic experience, both for the company that needs to downsize and especially for the person being retrenched.
For a company, "retrenchment" means the reduction of expenditure in order to become financially stable. This is often achieved by downsizing or curtailment. In many cases, this implies that a process is being followed to cut down on the number of staff being employed.
For the individual being retrenched, this means losing a job, losing a source of income and often also losing a certain standing in the family and in the community. This may result in loss of self confidence, focus and even the will to overcome the ‘tragedy’.
But retrenchment can be a blessing in disguise. If the initial negative emotional effect on the person being retrenched is replaced with hope and positive thoughts linked to new initiatives and positive plans, retrenchment will open the door to significant personal growth and may also result in a higher quality of life and a feeling of fulfilment. Retrenchment Coaching can lead the retrenched person from seeing him/herself as the victim, to becoming the creator of a new future.
Our Retrenchment Coaching Approach
We believe that every retrenched person has it in him or herself to overcome the negative emotions that normally go with retrenchments; to analyse the available options and to take the right decisions regarding the road ahead. This is however often not an easy process - and this is where coaching comes in.
A Retrenchment Coach will guide the coachee to take stock of the current position in terms of all the aspects of reality - financial, relational, emotional (fears and ego) and practical things like accommodation. The coachee will by way of a vigorous discussion be guided to also take stock of his or her goals and passions in life. After establishing "Where am I now?" and "Where do I ideally want to be?", the coachee is guided to identify the obstacles to reaching the goals as formulated. All perceived obstacles should be rigorously questioned to determine whether they are real and find ways to work around them, if possible.
The coachee may be unrealistic about his or her abilities, especially following the decision on retrenchment. The role of the Retrenchment Coach is to question all assumptions about self-worth so that the coachee will discard false perceptions.
Retrenchment Coaching for managers takes place in one-to-one interactions. Follow-up sessions are normally desirable.
Staff below management level can be coached in groups.
Who will benefit from Retrenchment Coaching?
Anyone who has been retrenched or are about to be retrenched and who wants to use this opportunity to grow and improve their quality of life.
The where and how of our coaching
Coaching is most effective when the coach and coachee meet eye to eye, but this is not always possible.
If the person who requires coaching (the "coachee") is in Gauteng, our coach will meet him or her somewhere where it is quiet and private. If this entails travelling by the coach, a reasonable fee for travelling will be payable.
If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, arrangements can be made for coach and coachee to communicate online via Skype, Windows Messenger, telephone or email. In the case of coaching via telephone, these calls will have to be made by the coachee. (Contact us here.)
If you prefer coaching to take place in a language other than English or Afrikaans, please enquire beforehand.
Retrenchment Coaching fees
When an individual signs up for Retrenchment Coaching, the first 30 minutes (or the first email) is free of charge. The coachee can then decide whether to continue or not (without any obligation) and the fee of any extended or additional coaching sessions will be negotiated between coach and coachee. The coach may request that the fee for any such additional coaching session be paid upfront.
In the case where an employer wants to provide Retrenchment Coaching to employees or former employees, a comprehensive proposal will be submitted after a thorough needs assessment.