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5 Tips to Keeping Your Job In A Bad Economy |
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Written by Brian Bieler
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Everyone
is uniquely different and you must make that uniqueness a competitive
advantage. Don’t be afraid to be different and don’t think that simply
following the crowd will keep you employed. Companies are likely to
throw out babies with bath water.
In good times, when the pendulum swings in the right direction, people get hired to fill needs with the anticipation of growth and often silly inane expenses get overlooked.
However, when the pendulum swings the other way, even paper clips will be counted and your job may show up on the expendable expense column of the company excel spread sheet.
Here are some ideas how you may be able to avoid being a casualty of hard times:
1. Blend in and you could be setting yourself up to get blown out. Things are likely to happen when sales go flat or expenses outstrip income. If business in your company is going south, it’s a sign that even more things are going to happen - if they haven’t already. The wrong time to blend in or hide is when business is tough. Looking like you’re an average commodity may accelerate the perception your job has less value. When you blend in with other workers and managers, you may be losing that important competitive advantage. Everyone is uniquely different and you must make that uniqueness a competitive advantage. Don’t be afraid to be different and don’t think that simply following the crowd will keep you employed. Companies are likely to throw out babies with bath water.
2. Being a scaredy-cat won’t help. Don’t become obsessed with fear of losing your job, or it may become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Fear is both a mental and physical reaction to something that may (or may not) happen. While you may try to hide your fears from others, it’s hard to disguise the body language of fear. Either way, people around you are likely to catch on to your feelings. However, what is most likely to keep you employed is the ability to overcome obstacles. Focus on making things happen and putting fear in perspective. You may have little control over a situation, but that is no excuse for throwing up your hands and giving up. Don’t just stand there looking good and wait for things to happen to you. You don’t want to show up on the radar screen as excess baggage because that’s the first thing to get unloaded. Be the best at what you do.
3. Use other people’s strengths to become more effective. People around you can help your success. Hang out with winners, watch what they do and think about how they can help you. If you’re not running the team, department or company don’t let your ego tell you it’s simply because you have been overlooked. It may be a wake up call that you need to learn more and sharpen your skills. When you surround yourself with people that are the best at what they do, you may be able to catch a halo effect and pick up better habits. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Be willing to give your time and support in return. When companies thin the ranks, they try to save muscle and cut the fat. Your job is to get fit and strong. Play with the strongest people around you at work and expand your networking to outside your company.
4. Give the news media a cautious eye. The media feeds on bad news to spice up stories. Making small problems into huge ones is part of the news media game. People that don’t think for themselves often overreact to opinion and may lose perspective of what’s important. Balance what you hear and see with the reality of your experience and knowledge. In times of turmoil you must be a clear, calm thinker. Trust your instincts and use your brains. Act on what will help you survive.
5. Dare to be different and see change as opportunity. When job markets get tight and the economy tanks, make the paradox of advantage work for you:
• Changes and problems open new doors of opportunity
People that survive are usually the ones with average IQ’s and skill sets, but have a strong positive work ethic and believe in their instincts. People willing to take chances and not give up when things get tough will likely be the winners in both good times and bad.
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Brian Bieler |
| About the author: |
| Brian J. Bieler is a 35 year sales and management veteran of Mademoiselle Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, General Manager of 7 major radio stations, President Viacom Radio, author, business coach and consultant. His latest book, The Sales Operator, is available at Amazon.com, Borders and Barnes & Noble. | |
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