How to motivate a team when everyone is paranoid about layoffs?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

More than half of my team has been made redundant already, as have several other teams throughout the company. This is not due to financial reasons (we are very successful!) but there are some rumours that the company might be sold or something like that.

I am a junior manager and yet never hear about any of these HR or senior management decisions until they actually happen, so I can understand the fears in my team and fear for my own job security as well.

And my performance is based on those who work under me. With such low morale, everyone is performing either at really low levels or adopting cut-throat attitudes. There is a lot of negativity at meetings, people argue with me and other superiors, and I just try to make sure everyone does everything right.

I fear that my own attitude is affected by all of this and that I am not bringing enough energy - though I hope that if I do well and try to show our superiors what my team is very valuable, I can somehow save us (or part of us at least).

What can I do in a situation like this to ensure my team still contributes positively and doesn't end up in the firing line?