If you’re stressed about your situation, it’s time to take action. Get in motion and stay in motion. Photo: theladders.com.
In uncertain times when many people are worrying about their working futures, May Busch is reminded of a quote by Louis Pasteur: “Chance favours the prepared mind.”
I try not to dwell on doom, but with global economies slowing, mainly due to the unprecedented changes to the way we do business, it is hard to be upbeat.
Even if your job feels reasonably secure, there’s enough anxiety to go around, and in challenging and uncertain times like this, you can’t perform at your best if you’re stressed and anxious.
So, do you sit tight, 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, in these uncertain times, I’m reminded of my father’s favourite quote by French microbiologist Louis Pasteur: “Chance favours 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, because there is a gift and an 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.
Here are three things to do if you’re worried about whether your job will still exist in six months – actually, they are worth doing even if you’re not worried about losing your job.
Write down all your achievements over the past 12-to-18 months: The idea is to get your ‘’greatest hits’’ list together before you need it. Go back further than 12 to 18 months if you want. This process is vital because it reminds you that you are awesome.
Here are some considerations for each achievement: The impact each achievement made for the organisation you’re in, the skills you used and what you learned from the experience.
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 revelation is an opportunity in itself.
Once you’ve got your list of achievements, take it up a notch by sharing your accomplishments on social media such as LinkedIn. This way, others can see your impact too.
Be sure to tag anyone you collaborated with along the way. Create some hoopla and spread the good feelings. We need your positive energy.
Look at who you spend time with: Entrepreneur Jim Rohn once 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 of 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 by the water cooler, that kind of energy doesn’t do you any good.
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.
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.
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. There is a gift and an opportunity in every situation – even the awful ones.
A simple way to protect your confidence is to reread your accomplishments (regularly) and invest time in your fans and supporters.
Take this time to strengthen your career position, whether or not you’re caught up in the layoff wave. I hope this helps you in your career journey.
May Busch’s mission is to help leaders and their organisations achieve their full potential. She works with smart entrepreneurs and top managements to build their businesses. She can be contacted at [email protected]. This article first appeared on May’s blogsite.
