Work Life

This Skill Will Help You Land On A Job Even In A Crisis

Many employers will not like what I will say, but I already said it.

Is it possible to find yourself out of the game when working hard and dedicating yourself to walk the extra mile for your company?

Could company politics ruin your career even though you deliver outstanding results?

What about standing up for yourself against retaliation or mobbing and losing your job because of your noble resistance?

What about another company acquiring and restructuring your company, resulting in your job’s termination no matter how successful you are?

What if your new manager is a racist mobbing you every day, forcing you to leave your dream job?

How would you feel that the CEO of your company appear one day at your plant without earlier notice and announce to everyone about a plat shut-down due to a decision to move operations to low-cost regions in the world?

All of these scenarios are possible.

You may feel secure in your current job. Still, unexpected situations like the ones above and more can change your happy life at any time. So, you better get yourself ready for the harsh winds of change even before they happen. Now, I will tell you a great way to achieve that, but many employers and HR professionals will not like that because the truth hurts.

Many years ago, I was coaching a mid-level manager working in a big corporation. He was a dedicated, self-motivated, successful, and results-oriented man. Despite the good work, he was stuck in his role because of the company bureaucracy and politics.

I asked him how long he works each day. He said that he is someone who walks the extra mile.

Then I asked him if he is a part of any social or businessmen associations, clubs, or groups. He said he did not have time for that, and the business came first. His problem at first glance was lack of delegation and empowerment. He thought nobody could do what he was doing and that his team was not strong enough.

What if he had the resources to run the business? Would he still be part of any socialization outside work? He replied that he does not like it because he thought that it was useless.

After a few more questions, it became apparent that he enjoyed working too much. It was the business success that made him happy in life beyond everything. His work was like his baby, and he had the idea that he would be successful as long as he had a green scorecard.

I asked him the questions above to help him think differently outside his comfort zone. He had never thought about any situations that could result in a company shut-down or downsizing. It was even a probability to consider losing a job due to retaliation for him.

I asked what he would do if he found himself out of the gate one day unexpectedly. As he imagined the circumstances of such a tough situation and the feeling of resentment with a guided visualization, he felt helpless for a moment.

Here is the advice I shared with him.

No matter how successful you are, be a wandering wolf. It means being active in social and business platforms and activities when you have a job. Do not wait to join until you lose your job or reach retirement age. Just do it now.

Being a wandering wolf is not only being active in the external world. It is also active within your company. But this is another article so I will not get into detail here.

Such opportunities are the best platforms people will get to know you with your good character, outstanding business results, and contribution to society. You will meet new people and learn different ideas and cultures that will grow you more.

Learning and developing social skills will improve your EQ (EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT), which is as important as IQ (Intelligence Quotient) in work and life success.

Networking opportunities will help you see different paths in life both in business and in social life. You will learn a lot from others.

As people will get to know more about you, you may be offered new roles in other companies beyond your expectations.

You can even find mentors and coaches to help in your career journey. Perhaps you will come across people who will believe in and sponsor you.

In such platforms, do not stay passive. Be an active participant in decision-making. Act as a sounding board. Throw new ideas on the table. Be the first one to offer help and to give a helping hand for someone in need. Be the first one to celebrate any achievements and be the first one to mourn in the hard days.

Make presentations about your areas of expertise. Share your expertise and experience. But don’t do this for recognition. Just do it when needed to contribute to the goals of that platform. People will soon recognize you as a subject-matter expert and come to you.

Take active duty and learn to lead people. Leading people in volunteering activities is much different than leading at work. It is a true test of your leadership skills o a great way to learn leadership unless you have no experience before at work.

Life is not all about work. Work hard but also live well. It can happen only with work & life balance. Socialize, learn from others, share what you know, and make a positive impact on others’ lives. That will help you find your meaning in life, and once you find it, you will find the resilience to stand strong even in the eye of the perfect storm.

You may even find yourself leaving the corporate life and starting up your company one day with the right sponsors and funding. Who knows?

In summary, do not wait for the harsh winds of change to come and throw you off to think and do things differently. Become a wandering wolf without the expectations of monetary and social returns. Just participate actively and be open to new opportunities to learn, share, lead, contribute, and have fun.

This is a multi-dimensional way to live an engaged and satisfying life. Even if you lose your job, you will not be alone but surrounded by a good network of people who know your character and success stories. That will help you stand out from the crowd.

Neither your manager nor HR will share this advice with you, even if you find them strictly following it. Awareness means more questions they do not have answers for, and questions lead to actions they cannot help you with.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. YOU HAVE GOT ONLY ONE LIFE AND NEVER EVER LEAVE IT TO THE HANDS OF OTHERS. NEER LIVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON BECAUSE OF YOUR FEARS AND ANXIETIES.

Cheers,

Kenan