Right now, the pressure on public sector organisations is intense. Many organisations will have been through several restructures aimed at making staff redundant and achieving a leaner more commercial focus. Further public sector cuts appear to be looming large on the horizon. Whilst all organisations are different and will respond to these pressures in their own ways. One thing that seems to happen in lots of organisations is a substituting of external demands with internal conflicts and a breakdown in trust between staff and management.
When confronted with the current harsh economic and governmental situation we tend to feel a sense of both hopelessness and helplessness. But rather than face the reality of this hardship and uncertainty, splits between staff and management harden. Staff might identify the management as the enemy. They may lose any faith they previously had that the management care about their safety or well-being. At the same time management despair of staff’s ability to be concerned about the future survival of the organisation and project their own feelings of helplessness and fear into the staff. Managers may feel that only they are holding the welfare of the organisation as whole in mind. Whilst staff may feel that only they are standing up for the values and integrity of the organisation.
When organisations go through periods of significant and sustained change independent consultancy can provide support to the whole organisation. Consultancy can help by supporting everyone to face the reality of loss and change in a safe way. Surprisingly it is only by admitting that a situation is unbearable that it can become bearable. And it is only when a genuine sense of the reality of a situation is reached that a sensitive and thoughtful way forward can be found.
If you think it might be helpful to find out what some independent organisational consultancy could offer your organisation why not get in touch and arrange a chat. Costs are flexible to suit your budget. https://coproductionworks.co.uk/aplace2think/
For more on this topic see Lohmer, M. & Lazar, R, A. (2006) The Consultant Between the Lines of Fire: The Dynamics of Trust, Mistrust and Containment in Organisations Organizational and Social Dynamics. v. 6 (1), p42, 21p.