The Real Leadership Test Happens After the Layoffs
The announcement ends. The real leadership work begins.
Layoffs have a public moment.
The all-hands.
The memo.
The carefully scripted talking points.
Everyone sees it.
It’s prepared, polished, and planned.
But the real leadership moment is the invisible one.
When the Zoom call ends and people glance at each other in silence.
When someone finally says, “Now what?”
When the side conversations start — and you realize everyone is looking for direction.
No script.
No stage.
Just you, the team, and whatever comes next.
That’s when trust can deepen.
Or quietly erode.
How Good Intentions Get Misheard
Even the most thoughtful leaders can watch well-meant words land wrong.
“At least you still have a job.”
They hear: “Be grateful. Don’t grieve.”“They were a great team member.”
They hear: “So… why are they gone?”“We had no choice.”
They hear: “You might be next.”
In the silence after a layoff, people search for meaning.
If no one names the emotional reality, the gap fills with stories—often the wrong ones.
What People Remember Most
It’s rarely the exact words in a memo.
It’s the way a leader’s voice sounded in the hallway.
Whether they paused to check in—or avoided the conversation.
Whether they carried the weight with the team—or tried to move past it too quickly.
These moments signal something lasting:
That people are seen.
That someone is in it with them.
That leadership is still present when the script runs out.
Words That Help
Perfect words aren’t required—human ones are.
“That was a hard day. I know some of you were close to those who left.”
“It’s okay if you’re feeling off. I am too.”
“I may not have all the answers, but I’m here if you want to talk.”
Even when the decision wasn’t theirs—and even when they don’t agree—leaders can share the weight so the team doesn’t carry it alone.
Leading After the Layoff
The leadership work after a layoff is quiet work:
Checking in.
Being visible.
Making space for what’s real.
It’s not about defending the choice.
It’s about helping people find their footing again.
Because once the announcement ends, teams aren’t just hearing leadership.
They’re watching it.
TL;DR:
After layoffs, the real leadership moment isn’t the announcement—it’s everything that follows.
What happens next decides whether a team recovers, rebuilds, or disconnects.
Related Reads…
After a layoff, what leaders say—or don’t say—matters. This post breaks down how to handle the moment after the announcement, when teams are watching closely.