Comments on: GTD in the Era of Economic Uncertainty http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/02/02/gtd-in-the-era-of-economic-uncertainty/ The Hub for All Things GTD Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:27:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bernard http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/02/02/gtd-in-the-era-of-economic-uncertainty/comment-page-1/#comment-1745 Bernard Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:18:35 +0000 http://www.gtdtimes.com/?p=1018#comment-1745 Right to the point, Lynn. For some people work is family, so not getting laid off is like being the one that Sophie chose. Just saw this article on survivor guilt afrer I read your comment, so I came back to post. http://www.talentsmart.com/learn/online_whitepaper2.php?title=OVERCOMING_SURVIVORS2&page=1 Right to the point, Lynn. For some people work is family, so not getting laid off is like being the one that Sophie chose. Just saw this article on survivor guilt afrer I read your comment, so I came back to post.
http://www.talentsmart.com/learn/online_whitepaper2.php?title=OVERCOMING_SURVIVORS2&page=1

]]> By: Lynn O'Connor http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/02/02/gtd-in-the-era-of-economic-uncertainty/comment-page-1/#comment-1744 Lynn O'Connor Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:06:15 +0000 http://www.gtdtimes.com/?p=1018#comment-1744 It is well-known that productivity goes down dramatically after layoffs --however I don't think its a technical problem, to be met with a technical (new method, new protocol etc) solution. This drop in productivity is I believe (and I have some data to support this), the direct result of survivor guilt in those left behind, in those "surviving." We did an experimental online study using a story where a successful manager is being advanced, in a time when the economy is settling into a recession and people are being laid off. In this story a second character, also a successful manager, is laid off. I can report here that the manager who remains feels weighted down with guilt, as if it was her fault that she remained while the second person lost her job. The feeling off survivor guilt was present even when the second character was someone who had been an unethical rival of the main character. The point here is that those left behind, those who survive the lay-offs and all the downsizing happening now, find it difficult to let themselves engage in work positively. It may be a good idea to introduce GTD but I would also get the word out that it is normal to feel survivor guilt in this situation, and that it is not their (the survivors) fault that people --some of whom they are close to, and some who are distant-- lose their jobs. Helping the survivors realize this is perhaps the most important thing in returning to a higher level of productivity. It is well-known that productivity goes down dramatically after layoffs –however I don’t think its a technical problem, to be met with a technical (new method, new protocol etc) solution. This drop in productivity is I believe (and I have some data to support this), the direct result of survivor guilt in those left behind, in those “surviving.” We did an experimental online study using a story where a successful manager is being advanced, in a time when the economy is settling into a recession and people are being laid off. In this story a second character, also a successful manager, is laid off.

I can report here that the manager who remains feels weighted down with guilt, as if it was her fault that she remained while the second person lost her job. The feeling off survivor guilt was present even when the second character was someone who had been an unethical rival of the main character.

The point here is that those left behind, those who survive the lay-offs and all the downsizing happening now, find it difficult to let themselves engage in work positively. It may be a good idea to introduce GTD but I would also get the word out that it is normal to feel survivor guilt in this situation, and that it is not their (the survivors) fault that people –some of whom they are close to, and some who are distant– lose their jobs. Helping the survivors realize this is perhaps the most important thing in returning to a higher level of productivity.

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