Things You'll Need:
- Positive, energetic attitude
- Willingness to work a little harder, help others and accept uncertainty
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Step 1
Change Your Attitude: Times are tough, and there is a lot of uncertainty and rumors around the office. So it is difficult to feel, much less, act upbeat and positive. But it is critical to putting yourself in a position to survive layoffs and come out of a recession positioned even better for career growth. With a positive attitude, you can not only be in a mental state to contribute more, but you can make a positive impact on other people in the office. This is leadership, and bosses love that.
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Step 2
Be likable and more social in the office: Don’t spend all day in the break room gabbing and gossiping and caring on, but you should walk around the office and say hello to people. Make the time for short, pleasant conversations with co-workers and bosses alike. Ask how they are doing…and ask them if there is anything you can do to help. Attend those office events that you normally skipped. Participate more.
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Step 3
Volunteer: Volunteer for tasks and projects around the office even when they are outside of your job description. Be the first to say, “I’ll do that.” And don’t just volunteer to participate in projects, take the initiative to be the organizer of some. Organize an office party (good for morale) or initiate an idea to call customers who have recently left to win them back. Expand your horizons.
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Step 4
Speak up more in meetings: Ask questions, offer opinions, and share ideas. Most bosses want to hear peoples’ opinions and want to see people take initiative to think of new ways of doing things. Don’t be the silent one in the corner who does not want to make waves. Take a chance and speak up more…you will gain more respect and become a leader on the team.
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Step 5
Develop another skill: While times are tough, anything can happen. You could do all of these things and still get laid off. Worry less because you have been developing leadership skills (and tasks you can put on your resume) by doing all of the things above. Another thing you can do is take advantage of your company’s tuition reimbursement program. Many universities have extension programs that offer certificate programs in skill areas demanded by all sorts of companies. You can get certified in Human Resources, Project Management, all sorts of computer programming and networking skills. No matter what happens, you are building skills and making yourself more valuable. But most importantly, you are doing something to grow yourself, which is rewarding all by itself.
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Step 6
Empathy for your boss: I know…they may be the ones laying you off, but think about it, they are having it tough too, and they may also be laid off. It is bad enough having to tell people they are fired, it is another to also worry about your own job at the same time. By acknowledging how tough they have it, and offering to help, does a few things; 1) it builds on your relationship with that person, which can be helpful in your current workplace or perhaps in a future one; and 2) when it comes to making choices, you will more likely be on the list of people to keep. After all, who was there for your boss during the tough times?
