What your company layoffs REALLY mean – and what you need to do.
You were just informed that your company is laying off dozens (or hundreds!, or thousands!!) of employees as part of a “re-structuring” or “right-sizing” that is being blamed on “the economy” or interest rates, or taxes, or some politician.
However, you survived the cut. You still have your job. You feel a range of emotions, including anger, confusion, anxiety, and gratitude.
You breathe a sigh of relief because you think you are safe.
But you’re not.
Because the mass layoffs are the result of much larger problems at your company, with the most likely issues being:
1. Your company’s organizational leaders are making bad decisions i.e. strategic planning, workforce planning, forecasting, lines of business
2. Your company’s talent philosophy views its employees as costs, not assets
Your company’s poor decision-making, and its talent philosophy, resulted in layoffs now and can easily lead to more layoffs in the future. Layoffs you might not survive like you did this time. These two core issues should be a wakeup call for you!
Companies that engage is successful strategic and workforce planning don’t over-hire and therefore don’t need to engage in mass firings. And companies that view talent as their greatest competitive advantage understand that their employees are assets to be invested in, not costs to be minimized or eliminated.
So, you survived the short-term problem (layoffs), but face a longer-term problem (poor decision making, and how employees are viewed).
Dang.
So, what do you do now? Below are 10 actions you can take to position yourself for career success in both the short and long term:
1. Conduct an Employer Performance Review
2. Continue to do amazing work. Always.
3. Invest in yourself i.e. personal and professional development
4. Gather evidence of your accomplishments, your achievements, and your outstanding performance
5. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
6. Be (more) visible to catch the attention of your target audience
7. Network, network, network
8. Look for, and be open to exploring, other good-fitting opportunities
9. Diversify your income stream (start a side hustle) so you are less reliant on income from your current employer
10. Build (or strengthen) your Career Advisory Board
By thoroughly evaluating your employer, continuing to do amazing work, developing yourself, and preparing for new opportunities, you’ll position yourself to not only survive, but also thrive professionally.
Start working the above-mentioned list today so you can find yourself a good-fitting and healthy work environment and employment relationship. One in which organizational leaders make good decisions, and treat their employees as assets to be invested in.
For information about job openings, visit: https://www.leonardworkforcesolutions.com/openings
For more career development tips and information, visit https://www.leonardworkforcesolutions.com/news
For information about 1:1 career development services, visit: https://www.leonardworkforcesolutions.com/careerdevelopment
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:
1. Let’s see if we can match you with a great fitting job - and employer!: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thebillleonard_leonardworkforcesolutions-employmentmatchmaker-activity-6968550784766504960-BoMR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
2. Counterintuitive idea: Assume you are wrong: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thebillleonard_leonardworkforcesolutions-dotheopposite-counterintuitive-activity-6969648365877743616-IrDe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
3. The REAL local labor market for most on-site jobs, at any given time, is between 0 – 5 people. So ask yourself this question.: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/real-local-labor-market-most-on-site-jobs-any-given-0-leonard-mhrm/
[This article was originally published on LinkedIn on 8/30/22: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-your-company-layoffs-really-mean-you-need-do-bill-leonard-mhrm/]