How to make a restructuring go smoothly

It's impossible to get a restructuring absolutely right. It involves weighing up many options, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. Every restructuring process will cause some people to gain and some to lose out -- and that may include the people at the top. For a restructuring to be successful, HR needs to be involved in strategic conversations right from the start, and right at the top. Be clear on what your role is and isn't: you're there to be honest and clear about what's happening, and to empathise with people, but not to be overly sympathetic.