After reduction in force: reinvigorating the survivors

In these days of reengineering health care and downsizing many health organizations, a great deal of attention is given to means of reducing the work force. Not nearly as much attention is paid to the survivors of a staff reduction and the problems that arise in the wake of a generally demotivating activity. However, it is the survivors--those who remain after downsizing--that will have the greatest influence on the organization's future performance. Therefore, the survivors must be remotivated and reinvigorated. Such is the task of surviving supervisors and middle managers, and their primary tools are communication, education, and people-centered management.