Redundancy is often a profound personal and professional rupture. For healthcare managers with a strong sense of purpose and commitment to public service, it can disrupt identity, security and confidence. As a career coach and former NHS manager, who took voluntary redundancy in 2023, I’ve learned that coping well is about laying the right foundations for what comes next.

Redundancy activates stress responses that impair judgement, resilience and health. Prioritise sleep, movement, nutrition and emotional support. This is not indulgence, it’s good self-management for your entire future.

Relief, grief, anger, fear, pride and guilt may all coexist. Compulsory or voluntary redundancy often carry loss, injustice, disorientation and self-doubt. Acknowledge what this is costing you, rather than dismissing or rationalising it away.

Redundancy isn’t a personal failure. Highly capable, committed managers are affected because systems and politics change, not because of their performance. Your contribution for colleagues and patients doesn’t disappear with your post.

The urge to do something immediately is understandable, especially when income drops and your lump sum begins to shrink. But decisions made in fear often narrow rather than expand future options. Take a deliberate pause to process what’s happened before committing to your next move. Establish a new structure for your day: a planned wake-up time, a walk and an ‘anchor’ activity like a social catch-up or that house or garden project you’ve put off. A ticked ‘done list’ for the week creates momentum and counteracts potential dips.

Redundancy can distort self-perception. Develop an accurate, future-facing account of who you are and everything you can offer. Try this three-stage process I use in my coaching:

This is a rare opportunity to design your future, not repeat the unsustainable experiences of past jobs and working environments. Consider the full scope of the role you want—autonomy, workload, values and organisational culture—not just job title and salary.

Redundancy can be isolating, but having rhythm and connection in life can ease loneliness. Talk with trusted peers who understand your past jobs and the demands of the system you worked in. It’s easier to regain perspective in conversation than in isolation. Schedule contact with others two or three times a week: walks, a coffee, a park run, a class or a volunteering shift. If you’re worried about explaining yourself, rehearse a simple line like: “I’m enjoying a short break after voluntary redundancy to work out what’s next for me.”

Unions like MiP offer procedural protection, but also advocacy, clarity and professional grounding. Engage early to access all the support and resources available.

Coaching can help you to rebuild confidence, process uncertainty and make intentional decisions. It can make the difference between just reacting to redundancy and using the transition well. Transition-focused coaching focuses on capabilities, values and energy, and helping you to form deliberate preferences about what’s next. Then you’ll be ready for coaching to support your direction and decision making.