It’s not mindset. Not your CV. Not networking. It’s time.
We talk about layoffs as if they are linear: job ends > new job starts.
But real life doesn’t work that way.
What determines whether someone recovers well or gets stuck is the amount of time they have to move through the inner journey:
Reflect > Reset > Re-Align > Rise™
And here’s the truth most people never say out loud:
– Not everyone gets the same amount of time.
– Not everyone has the same WW timeline or VSO buffer.
– Not everyone processes identity shifts at the same speed.
When the process is rushed?
The skipped phases always come back later, in stress, doubt, bad job choices, even burnout during onboarding.
When people get time?
– Clarity grows.
– Confidence returns.
– Identity strengthens.
– Choices become intentional, not desperate.
One of my coachees recently said: “I could literally tick off every phase of the 4R model. The moment I had time, everything fell into place.”
Redundancy isn’t a career event. It’s a psychological transition. And transition needs space. Time isn’t delay. Time is recovery.
If you’re navigating redundancy or supporting people who are, honor the pacing! It determines everything that comes next.
(this was originally a LinkedIn post)
Need support from a specialist in this area: contact me!
