Talking to employees about cost cuts is a difficult job for leaders and communicators, yet it is vitally important to get it right, especially now that it's such a big part of the way businesses function. These tips will help you get it right. Like the deck? Leave a comment or favorite it below. Cheers!

1. David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA
Founder & CEO @ThoughtPartner

2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
2© 2015 The Grossman Group
David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA helps leaders drive productivity and get the results
they want through authentic and courageous leadership communication, a sought-after
speaker and advisor to Fortune 500 leaders. A two-time author, David is CEO of The
Grossman Group, an award-winning Chicago-based strategic leadership development and
internal communication consultancy; clients include: DuPont Pioneer, Eastman Chemical
Company, Lockheed Martin, McDonald’s, Motel 6 and Tyco, to name a few.
A frequent media source for his expert commentary and analysis on employee and
leadership issues, David was recently featured on “NBC Nightly News,” CBS MoneyWatch,
WSJ.com, TODAY.com, in the Chicago Tribune and the LA Times.
He’s the author of the highly-acclaimed books, “You Can’t NOT Communicate: Proven
Communication Solutions That Power the Fortune 100,” and its follow-up, “You Can’t NOT
Communicate 2.” His forthcoming book, “No Cape Needed: The Simplest, Smartest, Fastest
Steps To Improve How You Communicate By Leaps and Bounds” is due out in August 2015.

3. © 2015 The Grossman Group 3
Cost cutting is a major trend
@ThoughtPartner
Deloitte, “Save to Grow: Deloitte’s third biennial cost survey” (2013)

4. © 2015 The Grossman Group 4
Why it matters
4© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner
1 Towers Watson, 2011-2012 Change and Communication ROI Study
1
2
2 Towers Watson, 2013-2014 Change and Communication ROI Study

5. © 2015 The Grossman Group 5
1. Use a Smart, Fair Process
6 basic steps
@ThoughtPartner 5© 2015 The Grossman Group
2. Build a Strong Business Case
3. Emotionally Connect with Employees
4. Consider Appearances
5. Align All Leaders on the Message
6. Communicate Specific Direction
and Actions for Employees

6. © 2015 The Grossman Group 6
1. Use a
Smart, Fair
Process
6© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

7. © 2015 The Grossman Group 7
Engage employees early
@ThoughtPartner 7© 2015 The Grossman Group
If we involve employees
early, we help build
buy-in for a company
initiative and greatly
increase the odds that it
will be well received.

8. © 2015 The Grossman Group 8
2. Build
a Strong
Business
Case
8© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

9. © 2015 The Grossman Group 9
Cutting costs
=
growth
@ThoughtPartner 9© 2015 The Grossman Group

10. © 2015 The Grossman Group 10
They helped
set company
productivity
goals
Created
productivity
measurements
Established
key initiatives
for the
company to
undertake
They also built a
productivity
communication plan
so the entire
workforce could
understand the
company’s path
forward
@ThoughtPartner
Case study:
Employees help set company up for future growth
One Fortune 500 client of ours created a corporate productivity council to
ensure the company was forward-looking and setting itself up nicely for
future growth.

11. © 2015 The Grossman Group 11
3. Emotionally Connect
with Employees
11© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

12. © 2015 The Grossman Group 12
of the future
you envision
Paint
a picture
12© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

13. © 2015 The Grossman Group 13
4.Consider Appearances
13© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

14. © 2015 The Grossman Group 1414© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner
When making tough
announcements regarding
layoffs or a restructuring,
carefully consider the timing
of your announcement, and
also think about how
employees might receive
contradictory messages. For
instance, don’t announce
deep cuts around the same
time that you award top
leaders hefty bonuses, or after
an expensive, perk-filled
management meeting.

15. © 2015 The Grossman Group 15
5. Align All
Leaders on the
Message
15© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

16. © 2015 The Grossman Group 16
Setting a “tone from the top” is
always a great approach for
getting employees to rally
behind something you want
them to believe or do. During
times of change, leaders at all
levels need to be speaking in
a clear, consistent way about
the organization’s new
direction.

17. © 2015 The Grossman Group 17
Align leaders on messages with
strategic messaging tools Want tools like
these?
Call us:
312.829.3252
for more info
Or send us an email: Results@Yourthoughtpartner.com

18. © 2015 The Grossman Group 18
6. Communicate Specific
Direction and Actions
for Employees
18© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner

19. © 2015 The Grossman Group 19@ThoughtPartner

20. © 2015 The Grossman Group 20
TruthWhen
we know it
What
we know
20© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner
Employees want to know

21. © 2015 The Grossman Group 21
1. Use a Smart, Fair Process
6 basic steps
@ThoughtPartner 21© 2015 The Grossman Group
2. Build a Strong Business Case
3. Emotionally Connect with Employees
4. Consider Appearances
5. Align All Leaders on the Message
6. Communicate Specific Direction
and Actions for Employees

22. © 2015 The Grossman Group 22
“Cutting to Win” is Also a Popular Keynote –
Book David Today!
Communicating with employees about cost cuts is a difficult job for
leaders and communicators, yet it is vitally important to get it right,
especially now that it is such a big part of the way businesses
function.
This cutting-edge presentation features case studies from leading
organizations and covers six critical steps and offers expert
strategies to bring employees along with you.
Specifically, attendees will walk away understanding:
• The Top Three drivers of cost management
• What employees want in times of change and how to
approach not knowing all the answers
• Prime examples of what to – and not – do when
communicating cost cuts and which behaviors can positively
or negatively affect your brand and bottom line
Learn from those who have been there before to ensure you’re
communicating your changes in the most effective way. By doing
so, you’ll win more of your employees’ support and boost your
bottom line.
Cutting to Win: 6 Steps for Getting Employees on Your Side During Cost Cuts
CLICK HERE TO
INVITE DAVID TO
SPEAK TO YOUR
ORGANIZATION OR
TEAM

23. © 2015 The Grossman Group 23
Invite David to Speak to Your
Organization or Team
Sought after speaker to leading organizations and forums:
• What to Do When You CAN’T NOT Communicate
• Turning Strategy Into Action
• Top 10 Mistakes Communicators Make
• How to Think Like a CEO
• Cutting to Win
• 21st Century Communications: Successful Strategies to
Deliver Authentic Communication
• Tackling “Email Overload” On A Global Scale
• The Power of Internal Branding: The Communicator’s Secret
Weapon
• The Power of Storytelling
• Communication Training for Leaders at all Levels
POPULAR KEYNOTES & TRAININGS INLUDE:
*All keynotes and corporate trainings are customized to meet unique business needs
CLICK HERE TO
LEARN MORE

24. © 2015 The Grossman Group 2424
Want more resources?
© 2015 The Grossman Group
Join our newsletter
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Think your team might benefit from You Can’t Not Communicate:
Proven Communication Solutions that Power the Fortune 100,
or it’s follow up, You Can’t Not Communicate 2?
Visit www.yourthoughtpartner.com/book to order, or email us at
results@yourthoughtpartner.com to inquire about bulk discounts.
Read and/or download
our Cutting to Win eBook:
“Cutting to Win”
www.yourthoughtpartner.com

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Check for updates and get more details at
www.yourthoughtpartner.com/nocapeneeded
@ThoughtPartner

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LET’S STAY
312.850.8200
@ThoughtPartner
www.yourthoughtpartner.com/blogdgrossman@yourthoughtpartner.com
www.linkedin.com/davidgrossmanaprabc
IN TOUCH
26© 2015 The Grossman Group
David Grossman, Founder &
CEO, The Grossman Group

27. © 2015 The Grossman Group 27
www.yourthoughtpartner.com
• Chicago-based boutique
consultancy focused on internal and
leadership communications, and
training
• The Grossman Group approach
works to inspire and engage
employees while helping
organizations promote diversity and
inclusion as part of their overall
strategic employee
communications planning.
• Strategic business partners first,
communication counselors second
About us
Your thoughtpartner. Always. We’re there for
your everyday and your defining moments.
27
David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA
Founder & CEO
312 N. May St. Suite 101
Chicago, Illinois 60607
312.850.8200
www.yourthoughtpartner.com/about-david
Some of our client partners …
© 2015 The Grossman Group @ThoughtPartner
Some of our client partners …