After the layoff: How to support your team when it just got smaller

Overview
After a layoff, managers often struggle to keep their remaining team motivated and productive. This article offers practical steps for technical leaders to support their employees, maintain morale, and rebuild a high-performing culture.

Key Takeaways

• Communicate transparently about the reasons for the layoff and the path forward.
• Show empathy and give space for employees to process emotions.
• Re-establish clear priorities and realistic goals for the smaller team.
• Provide resources such as counseling, career coaching, or internal mobility options.
• Recognize and celebrate the contributions of departing colleagues while focusing on the future.
• Encourage open feedback loops to surface concerns early.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers handling team reductions.
• Technical leads responsible for team morale.
• HR professionals supporting technical departments.
• CEOs and founders navigating organizational change.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Situational Leadership
• Psychological Safety principles
• Agile retrospectives for post-layoff reflection