I try not to dwell on doom, but the announcements just keep coming…

📉 50% of jobs gone at the US Department of Education.

📉 Social Security system under revamp.

📉 Medical school acceptances rescinded for lack of funding.

📉 Investment banking analyst offers pulled because of AI.

📉 Tech layoffs and job cuts as global economies slow down. 

Even if your job feels reasonably secure, there’s enough anxiety to go around. And in uncertain times like this, you can’t perform at your best if you’re stressed and anxious.

You have a choice

Do you sit and wait and worry?

I’ve done enough waiting and worrying in my career to know that’s not the answer. It’s a huge drain on your energy and not worth it.

Instead, I’m reminded of my father‘s favorite quote by Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors the prepared mind.”

The key is to do some preparation. If nothing else, it will give you peace of mind.

What matters is how you take advantage of the opportunity

Yes, there is a gift and opportunity in every adversity. You just need to know how to look.

One thing to avoid is mental paralysis – the tendency to hunker down until the storm passes. Our bodies and minds are made for motion. And it's darned hard to get to top speed again from a standing start.

So, if you’re stressed about the situation, it’s time to take action. Get in motion and stay in motion.

The 3 things to do if you’re worried about layoffs

These are worth doing even if you’re not worried about losing your job.

1. Write down all your achievements over the last 12 to 18 months

The idea is to get your “greatest hits” list together before you need it. Go back farther than 12 to 18 months if you want.

This process is vital because it reminds you that you are f*&#ing awesome! (Please excuse the language – it’s from my two decades on a trading floor. 😬)

Here are some considerations for each achievement:

  • The impact each achievement made for the business you’re in.
  • The skills you used.
  • What you learned from the experience.
  • Include numbers to bring it alive, like “expanded our market share to 15%” or “generated cost savings of $20,000”.
  • Create a storyline or narrative around it – everyone loves listening to a story; few people love listening to dry facts.

    If you cannot think of any achievements at work, then look at your personal life and volunteer work. Or ask friends and colleagues for their input. Sometimes, it’s easier for others to see how great you are.

    If none of that works, it may be a sign you’re not in the right role to begin with. And that’s the real opportunity: “losing” the wrong job is the opening to living your best life.

    Once you’ve got your list of achievements, take it up a notch by sharing your accomplishments on LinkedIn. This way, others can see your impact too. And be sure to tag anyone you collaborated with along the way. Create some hoopla and spread the good feelings. We need your positive energy!

    This brings us to the second action.

    2. Look at who you spend time with

    Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” 

    Are the people you spend the most time with going to help you advance in your career? Will they help you become a better person, a better colleague, a better leader? Will being around them help you make a bigger impact (and vice versa)?

    If your list is simply the people you need to get your day job done, but nothing else, that’s a wake-up call.

    If it's the people you complain to just to hear them reinforce how you’re looking at the world, that’s even worse.

    I’m not saying you can’t lean on your friends to help you through challenging times. But if it’s a giant whinge-fest (Brit speak for whining sessions) by the water cooler, that kind of energy doesn’t do you any good.

    Get out of the negative echo chamber because it will hold you back.

    Instead, reassess how you’re spending your time and who you’re spending it with. Then you can decide what to do about it.

    If it’s time to branch out and build some new connections, bravo! Get going and have fun “interviewing” people to be part of your inner circle.

    The best time to begin developing relationships is before you need them. Now is a great time.

    Which brings us to action number three.

    3. Protect your confidence

    Sometimes, “bad“ things happen to good people, including layoffs and downsizing.

    No one can blame you for taking it personally. But it probably isn’t personal. Even if it is, it doesn’t serve you to take things personally.

    But after the initial shock, it’s time to find that inner fire and move forward.

    When one door closes, another will open if you’re open to seeing it. As I’ve learned from the book Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine, there is a gift and opportunity in every situation. Even the awful ones.

    A simple way to protect your confidence is to reread your accomplishments (regularly) and invest time with your fans and supporters.

    And doing the things you love and find joy doing.

    Take this time to strengthen your career position

    Whether or not you’re caught up in the layoff wave:

    1. Create your list of achievements to remind yourself of what you’re capable of.
    2. Grow your network of connections and lean into them.
    3. Protect your confidence so you can take advantage of opportunities that come your way. Even from a negative situation.

    I hope this helps you in your career journey.

    Which of these actions do you feel most energized to take first?

    Leave a comment below – I’d love to know!