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Is The Sky Falling?

Is the sky falling?

 

As I write, none of my clients at tech companies like Google and PagerDuty has been laid off, but they have been affected nonetheless. One tried to reach her boss on the day layoffs were announced, only to discover his email had been deactivated; he had been laid off. Another client experienced overwhelming anxiety as an expected layoff was delayed for weeks. Yet another wondered how to complete projects which relied on collaboration with another team which had been eliminated.

Behind the headlines, there are real human beings trying to figure out how to navigate the loss of colleagues, more work on their own plates, and of course their own lives at the same time. Survivor guilt, the challenges of a reconfigured organization, and worry about one’s own future can impede effectiveness, which in turn adds to stress. Some people rush into working harder in hopes that will keep them safe, while others become disengaged, fearing they will be next.

What can you realistically do to protect and take care of yourself in confusing times like these? Here are a few tips:

First, evaluate your sources and the information itself. Learn to recognize both scare headlines and false reassurance, even from legitimate sources. Internal announcements and press releases from an employer are authentic sources, but they often use vague language, without much detail. News media may provide more context, but they often employ scare headlines to attract attention, or they imply trends beyond what the data support.

For example, I have seen quite a number of headlines saying “Another tech company announces layoffs,” sometimes adding “as cuts continue.” I know that the point of headlines is to attract attention, which such phrases do very well. However, to my ears they also suggest that there will be many more layoffs ahead, which cannot be known. In fact, many economists believe there is a continuing shortage of workers for most positions. Therefore, it’s wise to actually pay attention and continue reading with questions in mind such as: What percentage of total staff is being laid off? How fast will it happen? Does the company say anything about severance pay? How is the company actually doing? Looking for this information will help you decide whether the sky is falling or someone is getting excited without enough information.

Second, it’s essential to know your own patterns when unpleasant news arrives. Do you overreact with anxiety or anger? Do you minimize the problem with rationalization, denial, or false hope? Do you isolate yourself, distract yourself, decide “I’m too busy to think about it now”? Being aware of your default pattern allows you to make better decisions about how to react, how to take care of yourself, and what to do immediately and in the coming weeks or months. Meanwhile, you can gather more information and consider your options.

 

 

Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA production from Pexe

 

Third, tune into your values, strengths, and objectives. Focus on what matters most to you, Is it financial security, opportunities to learn new skills, the types of colleagues or customers you interact with? Ask yourself some tough questions: Do you trust that management is making good decisions? Do you feel appreciated for your strengths or are you being given projects that bore you? Are your employer’s mission and organizational culture consistent with your values? Do you have influence in your organization, or do you feel like a cog in the machine?

Fourth, take care of yourself. Take steps to support your physical and mental health, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, and relaxing with friends or a hobby. It can be tempting to let such basic self care lapse in times of stress, but that’s just when we need to be more protective of ourselves in order to be more observant, more creative, and more effective.

Fifth, take appropriate action. Refresh your connections with former colleagues and mentors, update your LinkedIn profile, upgrade and diversify your skills, rethink your expenditures and set aside funds for a rainy day. With your values and objectives in mind, consider whether an internal transfer, external job search, side hustle, or something else will serve you best. Brainstorm with trusted friends and advisors to better understand what you need and what you have to offer. Nourish your curiosity with new experiences and by meeting new people. These approaches will not only support you in the near term, they will strengthen you as a person and as a colleague or manager.

I’m always doubtful about predictions of the future. Most predictions, whether of doom or utopia, turn out to be inaccurate even when they contain elements of insight. I am persuaded that the best path to security, success, and happiness involves knowing what is important to you, cultivating relationships with kindred spirits and also with people with different perspectives, and nourishing your curiosity so that when the unexpected happens you notice potential opportunities as well as risks. It’s unlikely that the sky is falling, but if there are acorns or even debris landing around you, you want to be able to assess what it is and what it means for you.

I’m always interested in hearing from you. Please send me your responses to this newsletter, forward these thoughts to others who may benefit, and let me know if I can support you in important decisions.

 

by Deborah Frangquist – Deborah@chosenfutures.com

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