MEET DEMOTION WITH EVEN-KEEL ATTITUDE : CAREER PATH.Byline: Loraine O'Connell The Orlando Sentinel The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876 and is currently in its 131st year of publication. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. You've grown accustomed to the place - your little corner office with the potted plant and the door bearing your name and title. You've gotten used to the goodies that go with management: the better salary, the yearly bonus, maybe the executive (and much tidier) bathroom. Whatever. Then one day it's over. Gone. Past tense past tense n. A verb tense used to express an action or a condition that occurred in or during the past. For example, in While she was sewing, he read aloud, was sewing and read are in the past tense. Noun 1. . Maybe the honchos caucus and decide you're not performing up to their expectations. Maybe they decide to reorganize - or downsize Downsize Reducing the size of a company by eliminating workers and/or divisions within the company. Notes: When a company downsizes, it is attempting to find ways to improve efficiency and increase profitability. It is sometimes referred to as trimming the fat. - the company. Instead of losing your job, you're eased out of it. You're given a new title that means diddly-squat and responsibilities that require the IQ of a gnat. Today's demotions don't necessarily look like those 20 years ago, in which you went from being a boss back to a worker bee. ``I'm seeing titles get reassigned,'' said Shauna Laughna, a licensed psychologist and management consultant in Casselberry, Fla. ``I'm seeing changes in assignments that are essentially demotions, with a decrease in salary and status. At one point you were a vice president of operations; now you're `director of liaison,' whatever that means.'' Whatever your new title, you've been demoted. Now what? ``It's natural to feel a sense of grief because there's a loss,'' Laughna said. ``It's a loss of responsibility, sometimes income, prestige and one source of your identity.'' Grief is normal and may take the form of anger, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, lethargy or changes in eating habits. And if the demotion de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. was based on your performance, a sense of shame Noun 1. sense of shame - a motivating awareness of ethical responsibility sense of duty conscience, moral sense, scruples, sense of right and wrong - motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions will exacerbate the grief. ``Our egos are wrapped up in our performance,'' said Peggy Isaacson, a human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. consultant in Orlando, Fla. But don't let your ego take over your brain. Bad-mouthing the boss - or company - may provide temporary balm balm, name for any balsam resin and for several plants, e.g., the bee balm. balm Any of several fragrant herbs of the mint family, particularly Melissa officinalis (balm gentle, or lemon balm), cultivated in temperate climates for its fragrant to your wounded ego, but the damage to your career may be permanent. Talk to friends and family; vent, rant, rave. Do whatever it takes to get the anger, embarrassment and grief out of your system. But don't give in to the temptation to share your feelings with colleagues. ``It takes a lot to be able to put a good face on it, keep your head up high and not let people goad you into complaining,'' Isaacson said. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion