author of The HR Book | Marcia Reynolds | Lin Grensing-Pophal | Phoenix HR consultant

• “Be very direct in questioning management about what is happening,” says Marcia Reynolds, a Phoenix HR consultant. Knowledge may be the surest cure for downsizing’s woes, so even when bosses duck the tough questions, keep asking, she says.

• You need to talk out your feelings — anxieties, guilt, depression — so when the employer doesn’t provide a forum for venting, create your own, says Daphne Moses Houston, an employment counselor in Dallas. Talk with family and friends, and you’ll also clue them into why you are moodier and more anxious than normal.

• New opportunities within the organization are probably open to you now, so grab them, urges Lin Grensing-Pophal, author of The HR Book. “Volunteer to take on responsibilities that no longer have a ‘home,’” she says. Yes, these are sad times, but you still may wind up taking on responsibility that was out of reach before.

• Don’t gossip, don’t spread rumors, and stay positive, advises motivational speaker and author Patti Hathaway. It’s easy to sink into negativity; don’t. Stay upbeat. That’s a key to positioning yourself for genuine success even amidst the challenges of a downsized workplace. —