Microsoft announced over the summer that it was cutting global head count by 2.1%. That’s 4,800 former Microsoft employees who are navigating the emotional ups and downs of losing their job. These individuals are being supported “to take their next steps” according to the all-employee communication from Amy Coleman, executive VP and Chief People Officer; part of a promise that “we will do this thoughtfully.”

More than a quarter of a million Microsoft employees remain with the company, many of whom will have been shaken by this announcement and will be wondering whether their role is secure. Coleman was explicit that there will be further restructures. “We are still early on this journey, and there will be more changes ahead; other parts of our business will need to make similar changes,” she said. Microsoft employees face an uncertain future.

Uncertainty diminishes productivity. Energy is expended on worry and what-if conversations rather than on driving projects. Instead of forward momentum, there’s doubt, hesitation, and second-guessing. The challenge for Microsoft leaders now is to rebuild the confidence of their teams. 

Given the prevalence of layoffs, it’s a challenge that will be shared by leaders in many other organizations. If you’re one of those leaders, rebuilding confidence begins with you. 

“The great cosmic joke of leadership is that while you’re managing markets, budgets and strategies, the hardest part is managing yourself,” Manfred Kets de Vries, a professor of leadership emeritus at INSEAD, the global business school, wrote in a Medium post .

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