7 Things You Control That Increase Job Security

“This would be a very bad time to lose my job.” was the opening statement from a previous client.  Supply chain issues in their industry were making them very nervous.  That and they saw friends and family impacted by temporary shut-downs, if not out-right business closures.
 
It’s every professional’s worst nightmare.
 
Maybe you’re feeling vulnerable in your job too. We’re all watching (with great curiosity and concern) what’s happening around us.  While individually we may have zero control over pandemics, inflation, markets, etc. it’s important to understand what you do control – you.
 
Your impact at work helps to keep your organization healthy, and healthy organizations are much more resilient in the face of wide-spread challenges.  The way you carry yourself at work when things get stressful also influences your relevance to your employer; being open to new things, working well with conflict, keeping a professional demeanor and being a productive part of the team, all point to how irreplaceable you are.
 
Being relevant is key to surviving cut-backs. Here are 7 things in your control that increase your relevance and job security:

• Build Open Communication Channels.  Setting the expectation with your boss (and others) that you’ll have questions and want to discuss influences on the organization means no one is surprised when you do this.  Doing this consistently means you keep the information flow open and can get in front of issues impacting your work.  Doing it with emotional intelligence means becoming a trusted advisor who delivers (successfully re-setting expectations when things go pear shaped).
  
  
• Know What Matters.  This sounds straight forward, but is quite layered.  You need to know what matters to your organization (and why), but also what matters to your boss, and to their boss, etc. (and to you).  As an example, your organization might be results driven, BUT your manager is deadline driven (and you are quality driven).  You’ll need to keep all this in mind in the execution of your work.  Being aware of what matters helps you to communicate with more influence and precision, getting the right things done, in the right ways (especially when deadlines may need to flex to get quality results).
  
  
• Deliver Well.  This is all part of building trust and is good common sense.  You can’t just talk a good game; you need to provide the outcomes you promise in your work, and do so in an inclusive way that doesn’t throw anyone else “under the bus”.  If you know something is just not possible, re-set expectations without drama and finger pointing (see item no. 1), or your reputation goes down in flames (even if you meet your commitments).  You can’t just deliver; you need to deliver well.
  
  
• Be Visible.  Visibility doesn’t mean being at work before your boss, and working long hours all the time (that was the ‘90’s, businesses have moved on).  It means being well-read and having a good grip on your industry, clients, the market, internal processes, etc. With knowledge comes awareness you can share, either directly or by asking insightful questions that make others think more deeply about what (or how) they make decisions. Visibility increases influence, so be prepared to add your voice in meetings, and generously share with others what you’re a learning and seeing at work.
  
  
• Use & Grow Expertise.  Being good at your job is not enough to save you from an economic layoff.  Being indispensable is a game-changer.  When you are known to be a subject-matter-expert on things that are key to the business, you have more staying power.  This means putting yourself out there, being visible, respected and making contacts (yup, networking) to gain useful knowledge and insights that make you AND your boss look good.
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• Support Others.  Part of becoming visible, considered an expert, etc. is being there for others.  When you freely offer your support to others (sharing knowledge, lessons learned, even articles, cheat sheets, etc.) they will do so in turn.  They’ll also return your texts and take your calls (in a busy environment that is everything).  Support also means you’ll build a reputation for being a team player who is well respected across the organization, and those types of employees are the ones managers go out of their way to “save” if the lay-off axe is falling.
  
  
• Be Flexible.  Flexibility is what’s called for when an organization needs to make cuts to its workforce.  The work doesn’t disappear, it gets “re-distributed” and employees who are known to take change in stride and be resilient in the face of a challenge are the kind organizations need most when they have to make unforeseen changes. Being known for your flexibility will go a long way towards seeing you through a decision-making process (i.e., who goes and who stays) that is all about having to do things differently going forward.

 
Kindness, respect, generosity and strong communication skills ensure you stand out in all the right ways with your employer.  There are of course no guarantees, but all of the things on this list also make you a star candidate if you do get laid off (or decide to make a move).
 
Don’t let fear erode your self-confidence. You’ve survived 100% of your worst days and you are a credit to your profession.

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