What do you do if you need help rebuilding your resilience after a layoff?

Being laid off can be a challenging thing. More often than not you will not see it coming. While it may be difficult at first, just know that you are not alone. Additionally, it often isn't due to any fault of your own, often political decisions are made behind closed doors. It is important to remember that this will be temporary and the best way to move forward is to look for that next opportunity.

Being laid off stirs up a whirlwind of feelings—shock, anger, relief. Acknowledging these emotions is key to rebuilding resilience. Suppressing them only adds stress. Give yourself permission to feel and express. Talk to friends, journal, or seek professional help. Understanding your emotions offers insights into your needs, paving the way for a personalized comeback strategy. You've got this!

Acknowledging your emotions is the first step in rebuilding resilience after a layoff. It's natural to feel a range of emotions, from disappointment to uncertainty. Allow yourself to process these feelings without judgment. By recognizing and validating your emotions, you lay the groundwork for healing and regaining your strength. This authentic approach not only helps you move forward but also reinforces your credibility with yourself and others.

Managing emotions is very important when experiencing a lay off, as it often involves painful measures. Before looking for a new opportunity it is worthwhile to sort out these feelings and give yourself permission to feel it all. Suppressed emotions can be consuming and can block the flow of ideas and your mojo. Identifying those emotions with the help of an emotion wheel and to sit with these feelings will help you to return to clarity and energy much faster. A Coach can help , too. I recommend a 'layoff detox' and to invest in some embodiment seminars (e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi, Breath work) to release these emotions to bounce back with fresh creative energy.

Before you're able to really help yourself, knowing why you may be seeking some support of help is essential and Step 1! A great coach can be very helpful in speeding up this process for you and then in helping you identify next steps to help get you back to where you once were or, optimistically speaking, even better than before!!

Use the opportunity to think about goals related to your job search as well as other areas of your life. You can start with the basics of updating your resume & Linkedin profile, but also can start thinking about using the time you have now to update skills that you wanted to learn but didn't have the time for while working. Also having transition goals in other areas of your life will help you keep yourself steady while you go through a job search period. See where you need to pay more attention to whether that's your health, relationships, hobbies, community work etc. It'll help you come out of the layoff period with much more balance and meaning.

After a layoff, setting realistic goals is key to regaining control. Start small to build momentum—update your resume, reconnect with your network. Goals provide a roadmap, channeling energy into productive actions. It's not just about the next job but personal growth too. Embrace the journey!

We're all guilty of biting off more than we can chew at times. Recognising this or pre-empting this is very helpful. A coach will help you identify if this is the case and will support you to balance your re-introduction into the workplace better.

Few people, if any, can achieve everything on their own. Ask for help and support, it encourages others to step up into that role and shows a human side of you that is very appealing to so many people. It also encourages trust, which is such a critical part of leadership.

Being laid off can be devastating, leaving you feeling lost and uncertain about your future - been there and done that. But as I've seen with myself and my clients, it can also be an opportunity for growth. With support from loved ones and coaching, they rebuild confidence, redefine goals, and develop a strategic plan. They network, volunteer, and take courses to sharpen skills. When the right opportunity arises, they seize it with renewed resilience. While painful, being laid off can be the catalyst for your greatest personal and professional growth. Resilience is about leveraging adversity for transformation. With the right mindset and support, even the darkest moments can lead to the brightest futures.

When rebuilding resilience, support is your superpower! Whether from family, friends, or a coach, having someone to lean on is invaluable. They offer encouragement, advice, and fresh perspectives. An executive coach provides tailored guidance, helping you navigate emotional and professional challenges, identify strengths, hone leadership skills, and plan your next career move. You're not alone in this journey

Seeking support is crucial during challenging times. Connect with friends, family, mentors, or professional networks to share your experience and gain perspective. Joining support groups or engaging with a coach can provide valuable guidance and encouragement. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By leveraging your network and showing vulnerability, you build stronger, more credible relationships and create a supportive environment for your recovery.

If you're facing the challenge of rebuilding your resilience after a layoff, embracing learning can be a powerful tool in your recovery and growth. Here are the top three contributions of embracing learning to help rebuild resilience: a) Learning Fosters a Growth Mindset: By focusing on learning new skills or deepening your existing knowledge, you reinforce the belief that your abilities are not fixed but can be developed over time. b) Learning Leads to New Opportunities: When you commit to learning, you're not only improving your skill set but also increasing your employability and marketability. c) Learning Builds Self-Efficacy: As you learn and master new skills, your self-efficacy, or belief in your ability to succeed, grows.

Embrace learning as a powerful tool for rebuilding resilience. View this period as an opportunity to acquire new skills, enhance your expertise, and expand your horizons. Whether through online courses, workshops, or reading, continuous learning keeps you engaged and forward-focused. By committing to personal and professional growth, you demonstrate your adaptability and intent to do the right thing, which enhances your credibility and positions you for future success.

A layoff can spark growth and self-improvement! Reflect on past experiences to identify skills for enhancement. Embrace a learning mindset—see the layoff as a chance to evolve professionally. Whether through online courses, workshops, or industry books, continuous learning keeps you engaged and ready for what's next. Every challenge is a chance to flourish!

In uncertain times, a routine is your anchor! Structure your day with job searching, skill-building, and self-care. Include exercise and hobbies for balance. A routine brings normalcy and purpose, fostering mental health and resilience. Manage time effectively and take proactive steps toward your goals. Consistency is key to thriving!

Remind yourself of the value of your contributions in your former position. Don't forget what you bring to the table and that you can bring that and more to your next position. If you don't believe it, no one else will.

A change in perspective can make all the difference. I got laid off once. Got on a plane and flew to Barcelona and blew the redundancy money on 6 months of sitting about thinking about what to do next. Just by changing where I lived changed my perspective. And I started then thinking about opportunities in a different way. If you are laid off, shake things up. The world will look different from a different place.

Find a coach you support you working through the emotional and practical implications of the layoff, and allow yourself to feel all the emotions it brings up for you.

Go and volunteer. Whatever your situation is, there is always someone in a more challenging situation than you. If you get laid off, and you got a financial buffer, go and volunteer for a while. Not only will it give you time to reflect, you will learn new skills, meet great people, reconnect with your values, have fun and generally get things in perspective. By the end you'll feel lucky.

Dig deep, focus on what gifts you have developed and where these gifts may be of value and valued. Seek feedback and vindication for those gifts you would like to focus on. Let’s face it, sometimes we need to move on and seek out greater personal growth rather than always do what we have always done. That layoff is sometimes the best present ever (it was for me back in December 2004).

There is always a reason- A layoff may seem like the end of the world, but is it really? If you shift your perspective, it’s a door opening to multitude of possibilities! It forces you to now reflect on all the “I would like to’s”; to consider other opportunities that you would have not looked at while in a secure job. It will push you in growth zone automatically as you move from your known comfort zone into an uncomfortable zone. Ask yourself- What’s the gift in this event? What do I bring to the table? Skills/ experience/ network/ knowledge/ expertise Where do I want to align myself next? What excites and motivates me today? What defines me? How do I want to present myself now to the world? What will make me happy in the next job?