Reorgsilience? - Happening Now at a Company Near You!

I spent 3 decades in Corporate America. Like many others I saw my share of reorganizations and developed a very thick skin for it - what I call Reorgsilience. That’s the ability to adapt, stay visible and relevant, leverage the change for career growth and reduce your own stress by finding humor in it.? There's no arguing there is uncertainty in a reorganization where mass layoffs occur, especially if you’re one that is sent packing.? For the ones that remain, I used to call is “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”.? We have all been there; and if you haven’t; it’s not IF - ?it’s WHEN.?

Regardless of which side of the political landscape you sit, what is happening today in what has become one of the largest “Corporate America’s” in the country is not new.? There should be nothing shocking or surprising about a company that has gotten so “fat” it needs to be trimmed. Duplication of roles, too many Chiefs (or cooks in the kitchen), customers who are unsatisfied: the difference is the customers don’t have a choice. This Company has become so big there is nowhere for the average customer to do their business.? There is no place for the average consumer to get their goods from and thus its been operating as a monopoly. The Corporation needs to right itself lest it become so large, it loses the very purpose for which it was created in the first place.

When companies stop listening to customers, they die. This is not my simple truth, it’s a consensus amongst some of the thinkers who study business, coach leaders, and develop talent.? During my career I worked at 3 Fortune200 Companies.? I survived no less than 20 reorganizations (at the second company we had 4 in 5 years!).? That’s not bragging, it’s reality.? I watched as swaths of colleagues were given their marching papers.? Many landed on their feet because they had built reputations for being productive, agile, optimistic and diligent.? How they were perceived mattered, and they knew it.? ?They did what they said they were going to do and became reliable amongst their peers.? For those that didn’t land well, it was most likely because they were not perceived well.?

As for the companies? One peaked in the early 2000’s and in 2017 was bought by a private equity firm and lost most of its brick-and-mortar presence and has continued to shrink significantly. The second did a rebranding and spent over $15b (with a B) to acquire a company that operated over 100 brands only to jettison half of them and struggle with integration. ?I was part of a sell-off business in 2017.? As recently as 2023, they continue to implement cost cutting and their stock is below $8 per share (once over $55).

The last from which I retired in 2022, is still doing well however has been through a lot over the years. After 2 corporate giants merged in 2010, forming the world’s largest company in their segment, they have lost significant market share and stock dropped significantly as demand cooled, supply chain issues hit, and the company faced rising costs. Internal strife included tumultuous leadership and corporate arrogance.? They continue to restructure to this day, selling off “non-essential business” and finding new ways to combat old challenges.?

The point is every company that loses its way faces a reorganization.? There is no room for protest (to who!?).? It is up to the individual to adapt, overcome and, if an individual is good at what they do and others know it, they will land on their feet, as they should.?

Your CQ (Confidence Quotient) is more important than ever when you are faced with a potential reorganization.? Your Reorgsilience? is your ability to adapt and navigate what’s ahead. ??How others perceive you: your Confidence, which is directly affected by your credibility and trustworthiness and the level of resourcefulness you exhibit.? ?Confidence is a soft skill that can be learned and honed through life experience, leaning into your strengths and recognizing that how you show up is what other people see.?

Reorganizations are inevitable, whether in Corporate America or any large institution. They are the reality of business cycles, strategic pivots, and, sometimes, sheer survival. While we can't control when or how they happen, we can control how we show up in the face of change.

Your Confidence Quotient (CQ) and Reorgsilience? are the differentiators that determine whether you simply endure change or leverage it for growth. The perception others have of you—your reliability, adaptability, and trustworthiness—matters more than ever when uncertainty strikes. Companies will continue to evolve, restructure, and redefine themselves. The real question is: Will you be someone they see as essential or expendable?

By staying visible, leaning into your strengths, and reinforcing your credibility, you don’t just survive reorganization—you develop your Reorgsilience?.