Contemplating your fate in light of a company shake-up can lead to many irrational thoughts. It’s probably safe to say that in the last year most of us can identify with some sort of restructure, downsize or reduction in force; if not from personal experience then somewhere close to home, friends, family and neighbors. When the reaper comes a callin’ at your place of business, how do you handle it?
Initially, you may feel relieved if your boss is terminated, but don’t relax just yet…especially if there is doubt on your personal or team impact to the business. While certainly the buck must stop with someone, many leaders either fail or are replaced as a result of their team performance and not their personal misgivings. If you haven’t been earmarked as a high potential or “A” player than you need to understand the potential answer to “am I next?” While not easy to take, being prepared for both sides of the coin can help you immensely. Let’s look at both:
Am I Next? “No it was a performance issue of Mr. Boss and we think bringing in Ms. New Boss will help the entire team.” Immediately you sense relief but if you haven’t had exposure to the decision-makers, then you’ve probably been sheltered and therefore your contribution might have gone unnoticed. After finding temporary comfort in your continued ability to make the rent, begin laying out an action plan to aid in your new boss’s transition, help him/her get acclimated to the team, educate them on the challenges, the dept and business face and more importantly your support to the company. This is also a great opportunity to reevaluate your role, and seeking new responsibilities is one of the best ways to survive the downturn. In the February issue of Money Magazine, Donna Rosato writes in her article “Fireproof Your Job” that there are six smart field tested strategies to ensure you are not part of the cutbacks, one of them being, Go Beyond Your Job Description.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/news/economy/avoid_layoffs.moneymag/index.htmAm I Next? “Well…we didn’t want to tell you in this format, but yes you are part of the reduction.” What a tough message to take! Catch your breath and look at the immediate task. Take care of your family and yourself, no time like the present to understand your options. First, assuming your ego can take it, ask the question, very directly, “is there any other position in the company that I can fill?” Remember your fight or flight mechanism has kicked in so don’t do anything rash. If there is no other assignment or an available role doesn’t work for you, it’s time to understand some important things: severance, COBRA, retirement, outplacement assistance, vacation payout, transition of responsibilities and reference. You can never go wrong by taking the high road, and remember you do not have to agree to anything right then and there. Take a day to regain your composure and “make your argument” for being treated like an individual and not a number. In other words – explain why you deserve a little more! The reality of this is slim in these economic times, but handling the exit with class can go a long way. If you are faced with any of these challenges, call a career coach to help in your new found search. Remember, this too shall pass… but you can get a jumpstart by talking to a professional.
Career-Forward provides a free initial consultation for your career mapping. Contact one of our coaches at www.carrer-forward.com.
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Unfortunately for most people, one of the toughest things to do is work a networking event. While most issues that come from these events have a little bit to do with personal insecurity. The problem is usually double sided. First it appears that for some, networking comes natural…while not really an issue (except for the secret homicidal thoughts that these folks will either give you their playbook or choke on their coffee), the real issue is that most people refuse to network until they absolutely have to, in other words, they need something form the group! 
