The Leader You’re Becoming

The Real Reason Leaders Feel So Alone — and How to Fix It


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Being told you have to lay someone off is one of the hardest moments in leadership — especially when the decision wasn’t yours. In this episode of Leadership, Actually, we walk through how to approach that moment with clarity, steadiness, and humanity.

You’ll learn what to do immediately after you’re informed, how to prepare yourself and the conversation, and how to support both the departing employee and the team that remains.

What We Cover

• Why your first step is getting clarity — not reacting
 • What questions to ask your HR and legal partners
 • Why you need training, scripts, and clear expectations from HR
 • What your role is in a layoff conversation
• What your role is not (including what you should never improvise)
• How to deliver the message in a grounded, compassionate way
• How to handle emotional reactions without getting overwhelmed or defensive
• What support the employee should receive: severance, benefits, EAP, and outplacement
• How to communicate with the remaining team
• Why leaders need to care for themselves after a layoff, too

This is a practical, human-centered guide for leaders who want to navigate layoffs with clarity — even when the decision is out of their hands.

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The Leader You’re BecomingBy Everground Advisory