Uncertain Times: How to Strategically Protect Your Job
This holiday season, there are many who have lost their jobs and are hurting. In uncertain times it is good to keep in mind that we always have something to be thankful for, and we all have something within us that the world needs. It is the season to be merry. However, this is not the season to be complacent. With layoffs creeping up, job postings falling sharply, and uncertainty looming ahead, it is normal to feel worried. Just the possibility of a recession is enough to fuel anxiety. While we need to acknowledge and honor negative emotions like stress, fear, anger, and frustration, dwelling on negative thoughts can distract us from what’s important for weathering the storm. This is not the time to panic but rather to build on your strengths. Shift “what if” thinking focusing on the worst-case scenario of the uncontrollable to identifying the possibilities within your control. Do not let fear get in the way of taking actions that will move you forward, even if only little-teeny-tiny steps. Tough and challenging times present obstacles but also the opportunity to build courage, inner strength, and resilience. So, move proactively into strategic planning full speed ahead to keep the job you have.
Always, but especially during economic downturns, you’ve got to grab the help and strategically navigate your career. See the HBR article from 2008 How to Protect Your Job in a Recession offering relevant strategies you can use today. The key is to always focus on the things you can control.
What you can most certainly control is your engagement at work. Keep doing your best work even though you might not be able to avoid layoffs. When the economy gets bad, companies’ default reaction is layoffs. If that happens, and you are let go, you could move forward knowing there was nothing else you could have done. Stay in the game and get to work to find your next job.
Below are 10 Strategies for Keeping Your Job:
Tip #1: Clarify Your Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
Answer the question: in what ways are you a team’s MVP?
It’s about the 3 W’s of Job Success:
WHY: Simon Sinek's idea “start with the why” – why do you do the work you do?
WHAT: define your skillset, interests, and the impact you want to make at work.
WHERE: where do you shine at work? Articulate your unique value proposition, the things you do that get you noticed and recognized for at work.
Tip #2: Set Your Short-term Objective
Answer the question: what goal can you set to show up & shine at work?
To protect your job, establish your loyalty by showing initiative and dedication to your employer and team. Stay alert and attuned to your environment to uncover and create opportunities to contribute in a way that really matters, especially when resources are tight. This means seeing the big picture and wisely investing your time and energy. Setting short-term goals will help you get disciplined and focus on what you’re working to achieve within a day, a week, and the next couple of months.
Tip #3: Anticipate & Understand Needs
Answer the question: what does my boss want?
One of the most important relationships you have at work is with your manager, who can be either your biggest ally or worst detractor. It is in your best interest to turn your boss into your biggest fan and advocate. Take the time to really understand the team’s deliverables inside and out. Pay close attention and read between the lines to prioritize your deliverables to demonstrate the value you add to the work environment and on the job. Use all KSAs in your toolbox to make an impact.
Tip #4: Take inventory
Answer the question: how can I uplevel my results?
Upleveling requires honesty to look at your performance objectively and without making excuses. Create a list of your strengths, weaknesses, skills, abilities, and personal qualities. Showcase how you utilized your skills to deliver results. Evaluate your performance:
Are some of your skills under-leveraged? Show your team more of what you’ve got.
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Tip #5: Put the Pieces Together
Answer the question: how can my skills and experience be of use beyond the job requirements?
Once you take the time to zero in on the critical success factors of your current position, align your contributions to the business strategy and objectives. Find the sweet spot between what the company highly prizes and what you bring to the table. Are you falling short? Design a plan to bridge the skills gaps. Be ambidextrous. Leverage your strengths to increase your output. Connect the dots. Be clear on what success looks like, and be strategic in doing what it takes.
Tip #6: Be Proactive.
Answer the question: how can I uncover and maximize opportunities?
Think about the flow of your days and make an action plan to remain highly productive every single day. Be curious about hidden opportunities. Reach out to people in other functions within the company to learn about pain points and concerns. Identify issues in areas that are not in your daily purview and form alliances to offer solutions.
Tip #7: Work Your Internal Network
Answer the question: who do I need to build a relationship with outside my team?
To be considered as a critical resource, it’s crucial to be a known entity. Internal networking means reaching out and connecting with co-workers within your company even if your job doesn’t require you to do so. Think of your internal network as an octopus – you need numerous limbs, connections, to explore different areas and to be fed viable information. Build strong connections with colleagues to open up opportunities within the company. You never know who will lead you to a new and bigger role.
Tip #8: Sweat the Small Stuff
Ask and answer honestly: am I doing my absolute best giving maximum effort?
Success is never an accident. It is always the result of careful planning, high focus, sincere effort, and relentless execution. Align your choices and actions to support your career goals and recognize which choices and actions aren’t conducive. Make a list of all of your fears and excuses and turn them into your to-do list. Use the best tools to do your job effectively and always be willing to go the extra mile.
Tip #9: Hone Your Skills and Earn Your Chops
Answer the question: what kind of reputation do I want to have?
Make the most of every day by thoughtful planning and execution. Invest in the continuous improvement of your skills and expanding your knowledge to earn recognition as an expert. You can’t become a master of your craft until you hone your skills and earn your chops. Be an active participant. Prepare to take part and contribute in meetings. Get involved and join professional groups, projects, activities and events. Be a thought leader: search for content, follow trends, post, and share your knowledge with others.
Tip #10: Stay Positive
Answer the question: is my head in the right space for high performance?
Positivity promotes productivity and resilience when the going gets tough. A positive attitude will allow you to approach unpleasantness in a constructive way. But you have to make a conscious choice to rise above the challenges. Positive people are energizers. Energizers build networks of others energizers around them that exponentially expand to attract more people and opportunities. Positivity is a deliberate practice of intentionally cultivating your own opportunities. In the same way professional athletes need to fuel their bodies for peak performance, all professionals must fuel their mind with positivity for career success. It’s not about false or fake positivity. It’s about turning every experience into a productive one.
Wishing you well for your continued success in your current and future professional endeavors.
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