Fear of Being Fired
Fear of being fired may get you first on the list to be fired. In these tough economic times with one company after another closing and those that remain open downsizing, the stress level of so many employees is through the roof. Who wouldn’t be anxious about job security? Even so, the sad reality is getting fired may just be the new normal. Gone are the days of 30 year careers with a single company.
Fear of being fired ruins more careers than a mean or unfair manager, incompetence, or co-worker sabotage. Fear of being fired too often immobilizes and stops us in our tracks. We take no risks and put all our energies into playing it safe. Playing it safe does not ensure job security. To the contrary, when times are tough it is a very good time to stretch your creative skills and be seen as a problem solver, innovator, and one willing to push the envelope for the good of the company.
If the company is thinking of downsizing, it needs those remaining to bring more than a narrow set of skills to the table. The only way the company can do more with less is to have fewer people doing more and doing it smarter. Do you see yourself thriving in that kind of environment? Are you willing to go outside your comfort zone and really make a contribution to the success of the organization? At least think about it.
I recently overheard a conversation about fear of being fired and the person’s strategy was to “fly below the radar”. Flying below the radar and blending into the wallpaper will not protect you if the organization is looking to reduce the number of employees. To the contrary, it will simply make you blend into a mass of employees whose value is assessed to be average at best. During times like these you do not want to blend into the masses of employees. You want to be set apart as one of the employees who understands the direction the company is going and whose work is an important part of the company’s success.
THE LESSONS:
Fear of being fired often sets you up to be fired.
Do the job you have like it’s the job of your dreams. Take it to another level. Go beyond the job description and begin to not simply accomplish the task but add value.
Have a backup plan. Knowing you can take care of yourself and your family if you are fired frees you from the fear.
Get all of the knowledge and skills you can while you can.
In today’s world of work, you have job security when you possess knowledge and transferable skillsets that result in employment options while allowing you to confidently do the job you already have. Everything boils down to options. The more options you have the less afraid you are. The less afraid you are, the more creative, innovative, and productive you become!