Random Thoughts on Layoffs and Steem

Steemians are all the buzz about the layoffs that have occurred at Steemit, Inc. and the future of Steem. Of course this is understandable and many in the community are brainstorming ways to ensure that the current business model that drives the blockchain is sustainable.

However, I must admit, I had a different reaction to the news as a former HR manager and an investor.

FLASHBACK TO HR DAYS

My first thoughts were:

1. Empathy for the employees losing their jobs.
2. How sometimes the staff who remain are expected to take on more responsibility and as a result, low morale may impact productivity.
3. The overall viability of the organization.

AS AN INVESTOR

These are my thoughts:

1. Not all layoffs are bad for business.
2. Many want decentralization, but do they really?
3. What will happen to investments in Steem?

First I will make a comment on the HR aspect. It has been my experience that many organizations lose the employees that they are trying to keep after layoffs occur because the best performers are always in demand.

Employees not feeling secure about their jobs or thinking that they should get off a sinking ship must be managed carefully.

Then you have the staff who were let go. IT professionals who leave an organization can sometimes have hard feelings and do harm because they manage the brains and the mechanics of the operation.

As an investor, having layoffs can actually help to prevent an organization from going under by lowering operating costs. If done correctly, many shareholders see this as a positive move.

One of my biggest concerns is the decentralization process versus centralization. Generally in an organization there are only about 10% of workers who actually do the work. With a decentralization business model, more than 50% of stakeholders will need to participate.

Some stakeholders who actually say that they want to be free, or not managed, are not willing to go the distance. It is just human behavior that many are in the game for all different reasons.

Lastly, regarding investments and the risk associated with investing in digital currencies. While people make money every day, the same amount of people or more will lose the shirts off their backs. We should always manage the risk and never invest in what we cannot afford to lose.

These are just some of my random thoughts, but @ned will have a live update today at 11:00 CST to discuss questions and concerns.

The Link to Ned’s Live Update

Image by | @midlet

Posted using Partiko iOS