Recently, I was laid off. The company was making changes that would result in a reduction in force (RIF) in my area. It was months in the making, putting most of us in threat state. We knew there were changes coming that would include reductions, but not who would be impacted or when.
I must admit, it’s a crappy feeling. Change is what I do for a living, and it was still a struggle.
As we got to the end of 2020, my low-grade anxiety began increasing. We were reorganized, and it was the first step towards the final structure. One I strongly suspected I wouldn’t be part of.
I had a few choices. I could have been caught up in negative thoughts and feelings. There was the option to exit and find something new immediately. Ultimately, I wanted to be there for my team and influence the best outcome for them I could.
The end of 2020 was focused on actions I could take to show up as the best version of myself in 2021. How I could manage the uncertainty of change, honor my own stress, and be the leader I wanted with no regrets at the end of the journey?
1. Reality is merely an illusion
Before doing anything, it was time for a reality check. While my gift is seeing patterns, and I have years of experience leading through change and reorganization, I was in the thick of it. Sometimes, we struggle to see clearly in the midst of change that impacts us directly.
One of the many benefits of having a diverse circle is having sounding boards with different perspectives from our own. They can be objective in a way we often cannot, especially if our livelihood may be at risk.
I know that providing for my son is my top priority, and anything that threatens our financial security is a huge trigger. I didn’t want fear to drive me and influence my decisions.
Rather than assume I was right, I engaged a few different members of my circle to confirm my assumptions and get a balanced response.
Our truth is rarely “THE TRUTH.” Engaging our circle can help us validate assumptions, get different perspectives, and determine if the story we are creating could have other meanings or endings.
In my case, the signals I was reading were pretty hard for any of us to ignore. It was time to take action.
2. Show me the money!
When a major source of income might be disrupted, it’s time to look at the money.
I took a hard look at my expenses and what was really necessary. Key questions I asked myself were:
- What are my minimum expenses?
- How long could I go without work?
- What was the lowest paying job I could take and still make ends meet?
As I went through the exercise, I identified discretionary spending I could eliminate immediately and redirect to savings. Others I tagged as the first to go when I received notice. I looked at interest rates, which had gone down considerably, and initiated a refinance.
I am very fortunate. Not everyone has savings or can save at a rate that would give them a cushion during a job loss. Yet everyone can find lower cost alternatives or eliminate some expenses altogether.
Evaluating my financial situation, and taking definitive action to lower expenses, gave me a sense of control. I was able to focus on my team’s needs because I felt like mine were being met. As a leader and mother, this was a critical step.
3. Where are all my people at?
It can be difficult to find a new job without help. Networking is the best way to fast track what can be a frustrating process.
It may be tempting to expand and engage our network right away. They should be engaged, but it’s worth taking a pause before letting too many people know.
Mindset and language matter. Consider what to share, how to message it, and with whom. When we have a mindset towards the future, we will attract those that can help us achieve that future. If we focus on the negative in our current situation, it’s likely to keep us here.
Plan for engagement and consider what opportunities may exist with a job change.
- What do we want to do more of? Less of?
- What other jobs could use our skills? What new skills would stand out?
- Who do we know that might be able to help us see new opportunities, guide our growth, or introduce us to those that could?
In my case, I struggle with asking for help from my network. Since I had time, I flipped it around and started offering help TO my network.
I thought about my passions and how I want to grow and evolve my career. I considered what I could give in those areas and was quickly introduced to new people and opportunities.
Focusing on where I could give, instead of what I was losing or could get, provided a positive mindset during interactions and eventual interviews.
Bonus: Be still my racing heart
During the 6 months of change, I did everything I could to manage my mindset and control how I showed up. The feedback I received was that I was putting the team first, which was my litmus test for success.
Mentally, I was doing well. Physically, however, not so much. I started having migraines and heart arrhythmias immediately following the first org change. We can do our best to manage our stress levels, but it’s likely to come out somewhere. In this case, it manifested in physical symptoms.
I engaged my doctor to confirm what I was experiencing and see what could be done. We monitored my health over those months as I worked on controlling what I could, which were primarily my internal narrative, sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
The symptoms disappeared once I was notified of the job loss. Turns out experiencing a bad thing was less stressful than the not knowing.
During the stress of change and potential job loss, paying attention to our mental, emotional and physical health is paramount. For most of us, we are part of an at-will employment agreement. The company won’t stop running if we stop breathing. We are the only ones that can prioritize our well-being.
Take planned and definitive action
While the first half of 2021 had plenty of struggle, loss, and change, it was also an opportunity for joy, learning, and growth.
I went into the year with knowledge that I controlled what I could and that any change would be transformational rather than terminal. Considered what I really wanted, and what I could do to begin moving in that direction. Of who I could help, which brought joy and positive energy, even in the midst of uncertainty.
While the current environment is generally very favorable to those looking for jobs, companies frequently look for ways to optimize current capabilities to afford new investment. If we find ourselves on the wrong end of that equation, there are definitive actions we can take on our own behalf.
- Verify our reality by confirming assumptions and narratives with our inner circle
- Evaluate our financial situation, minimizing expenses and increasing savings
- Look to the future and begin engaging / expanding our network
Throughout, the most important thing is to focus on wellness. Our mental, emotional, and physical health are not guaranteed, and only we can make sure those needs are being prioritized.
For those of you on the hunt, best of luck. If there are actions you’d recommend and don’t see here, please share them in the comments to help others on their journey.
