Why 'cutting back' often hurts more than it helps.

Byline: Miriam Isa

Why 'cutting back' often hurts more than it helps SOME years ago, my previous employer sent a group of senior staff on a leadership course in Johannesburg. It wasn't a particularly high-powered training event the purpose was to make us more aware of the different ways in which we and our colleagues functioned. There are a couple of things that stand out in my memory. One is the bit where the trainer asked us what was the driving factor that motivated us in our jobs . One of my colleagues replied: Fear. The rest of us were stunned. Not just by the answer, but because of the person who offered it he was one of most quietly confident, calm and efficient people in our newsroom. He may have had more insight into himself …