Everyone and their brother is writing about, talking about, blogging about – job security. Are the job numbers a harbinger of "the worst is yet to come?" Whether they are or not, if we get caught up in the glass half empty approach, we’re bound to manifest some chaotic episode in our careers or in the workplace.
A passage of the ancient I-Ching philosophy states, "By ones thoughts, one commands." I’m not talking about "The Secret" or the stuff of the "new age," but instead the simple state of being at work and how we show up. If thoughts of, "Am I going to be fired?" are running through your head the minute you walk thought the door, it’s more likely that you will react from a place of fear every time your boss glances your way. This disposition sets a tone that then becomes habit. Fear of losing ones job becomes familiar and soon it’s the most comfortable place to live. But it’s a road to certain burnout.
I’m not making light of the job market. Job layoffs are mounting in certain industries. There is reason to be concerned, but not to give up the ship. Since your yearly review comes so infrequently (if at all these days), YOU – are your best resource to assess your career or job. You can do this without setting off red flags of paranoia by taking an objective look at where you stand in your career, your company and in your daily chaos. This is not an easy task, but by contemplating these questions, you might shed some light on whether you might really be in the hot seat, or just creating more worry for yourself.
- Do you feel you are valued in your position at work? Make a list of your direct and unique contributions. This includes how you implement your people or leadership skills at work.
- Do some colleagues directly depend on your work in order to keep pace with their own responsibilities? If so, does it appear that they are satisfied with your working relationship? There might be ways to improve upon this through better communication with your colleagues.
- How often do you interact with your immediate superior? If you haven’t seen that corner office for a while, ask yourself why. Are you purposely trying to stay off the radar? If so, is there a good reason why that needs to be addressed?
- How are you managing your time? When concerned about job security, one of the most important tasks is to prioritize your workload. If you’re finding that you are distracted, coming in late, or burning out, your performance might suffer. While you’re at it, what is your work/life balance like these days?
- Perfectionism. If you are checking and rechecking everything you do, is this in reaction to your own insecurities, or because you’ve been taken to task in the past? Are you meeting your deadlines while delivering good work? If so, why all the worry?
We are living in an era of uncertainty but a frank contemplative look at your career might stave off the worry and burnout.
