How to Protect Your Job in a Recession
Liz Lemon demonstrates how not to survive a recession, by exchanging sexual favors to keep her team intact from an impending layoff in the 30 Rock episode “Cutbacks.” This episode provides comedic commentary on the state of our economy and job market. This episode reminds us that we must learn to survive this recession by protecting our job, while also coming up with a Plan B.
Paul Michelman talks with Diane Coutu, author of the Harvard Business Review article “How to Protect Your Job in a Recession.” In HBR Ideacast, Coutu offers five tips to workers, who want to survive their company’s layoffs by acting like a survivor, focusing on customers, swallowing your pride, giving your boss hope, and creating a plan B. Click here to listen to podcast.
Act like a Survivor
Lighten up and be fun to be around. You do need a pessimistic realism in order to move forward. Based on research, when push comes to shove, collegiality may trump competence. Don’t be the person, who always reminds everyone how vulnerable you all are in your jobs. Be a good corporate citizen. Start attending the meetings that you used to skip. Survivors get on board by participating with the organization.
Look Forward, Focus on Customers
Coutu recommends that workers should look forward by staying focused on customers—internal or external. Your job is to convince these customers that you’re indispensable. Also convince colleagues and your boss that you’re ambidextrous, meaning you can wear several hats at the same time. In recessions, jobs are eliminated. You need to demonstrate that you can do the jobs that were cut. The survivors in recessions tend to be workers that come into organizations with multiple hats.
Swallow your Pride
You never know if you’re coworker may become your boss. Not dealing with this with humility may make you vulnerable to being eliminated. Minimize the political activity, by engaging in togetherness and teamwork attitude.
Give Your Boss Hope
Times of uncertainty, like a recession, are tough on leaders. If you give your managers and leaders hope, then they may engage more actively in your well-being.
Develop a Plan B
You need a plan B, even though you’re trying to help your company. Look at your level of self-knowledge: (1) find out who you are; (2) what it is you want to do, and (3) start updating your resume and begin networking. Deploy your creativity; use the stress during a recession to come up creative ideas on what to do next.
Take Coutu’s five career management advice to heart, and watch the 30 Rock to find humor in this dangerous time.
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[...] If you have aspirations of being management material, then show your “management” side by demonstrating calm in the face of uncertainty. Be that “tough as nails” person or be that “rock” that people can have confidence in. If you think you’re at risk, then figure out: (1) the best way for you to manage your work load; (2) deliver results; and (3) think about your next career move. But don’t be tempted to be anxious, scared. Don’t be that person. Follow Diane Coutu’s advice on how to protect your job in a recession. [...]