Introduction: What You’ll Learn
Organizational changes like reorgs can bring uncertainty about roles and future prospects. This simulation helps you proactively manage your career by staying visible, advocating for your contributions, and aligning with new leadership.
You’ll practice:
- Communicating effectively with new management
- Highlighting your achievements and value
- Seeking clarity on your role and responsibilities
- Building alliances and networks for support
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Initial Communication
Scenario: Your company just announced a reorganization. Your team will merge with another, and leadership will change. You need to prepare for your first meeting with the new manager.
You: "Hi [New Manager], welcome to the team! I’d love to set up some time to chat about how I can help us hit our goals during this transition. Could we schedule a quick meeting this week?"
New Manager: "Thanks, [Your Name]. I'd be happy to meet. How about Thursday afternoon?"
You: "Perfect. Looking forward to it!"
Scene 2: Meeting with New Management
Scenario: During your meeting, you want to ensure your contributions are recognized and understand your new role expectations.
You: "Thanks for meeting with me, [New Manager]. As we transition, I’d like to share some of my recent projects and the impact they’ve had. For example, I led the [Project Name] initiative, which helped improve [specific metric or outcome]."
New Manager: "That sounds great. How do you see your role evolving with our new structure?"
You: "I see opportunities to use my skills in [specific area] to support our new objectives. I’m eager to know how I can align my efforts with the team’s direction."
Scene 3: Proactively Seeking Clarity
Scenario: You need to clarify any changes to your responsibilities and how success will be measured moving forward.
You: "I’d appreciate knowing if there are any changes in our team’s priorities or my specific responsibilities. Understanding where I should focus my efforts would be really helpful."
New Manager: "We’re shifting some projects, but your expertise in [specific area] is crucial. Let’s keep talking to make sure we’re both clear on expectations."
You: "Absolutely. I’ll draft an outline of my key responsibilities and goals as I understand them and share it for feedback. Does that work for you?"
Scene 4: Building Alliances and Support
Scenario: You want to strengthen your network and ensure you have allies during this transition.
You: "Hi [Colleague], with all the changes happening, I think it’s important for us to stay connected and support each other. Would you be open to regular check-ins to share insights and strategies?"
Colleague: "Definitely. It’d be great to stay aligned and help each other navigate this."
You: "Great! Let’s set up a regular time. I believe our combined efforts can really make a difference in this new setup."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: Your new manager is vague about role changes.
- Best Response: “I’d like to check back in a few weeks to make sure I’m on the right track. Can we set a follow-up meeting?”
Challenge 2: A colleague expresses frustration about the reorg.
- Best Response: “I get that it’s tough. Let’s brainstorm how we can adapt and make the best of these changes together.”
Challenge 3: You’re unsure about how to showcase your achievements.
- Best Response: “I’ll put together a summary of my recent projects and their impact—can you review it and give me your thoughts?”
Optional Curveball Mode
- Your manager is unavailable for the next couple of weeks.
- Key projects are paused or shifted.
- Your role is combined with another, creating ambiguity.
Practice maintaining focus and advocating for clarity under these conditions.
Reflection Checklist
Communication & Visibility
- Did I clearly communicate my contributions and achievements?
- Did I seek feedback and clarity on my role?
Adaptability
- Did I propose ways to align with new goals?
- Was I proactive in addressing role changes?
Networking & Support
- Did I strengthen alliances within the team?
- Did I establish support networks during the transition?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting passively for information
- Failing to advocate for your role and contributions
- Overlooking the importance of networking during change
- Not seeking clarity on changing responsibilities