There are 5 things you have to do dealing with a job layoff experience. As we enter into the 8th part of our series allow me to recap the whole thing.
Principle Number 1 is: to face the Emotional Costs – and get it over with!
Principle Number 2 is: to understand where you are in the 5 emotional stages in the process of mourning.
Principle Number 3 is: to get support from friends. To support each other too but to talk and focus only on positive things. To share experiences for the purpose of helping each other.
Today we’ll focus on the 4th and 5th principles which involve a great amount of attitude work.
Principle number 4 is to turn the experience into a growth opportunity.
When you’re ready emotionally and spiritually, you can now turn your experience into a growth opportunity. Assess the situation and be honest with yourself.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Did I inadvertently contribute to the situation?
- Was there anything I might have done differently?
- Did I learn anything that I can apply in my next job?
Deal with these. Forget the blame game. It won’t bring you anywhere.
This is the process of turning your experience into your growth opportunity. Bring out those business cards. Think of the people you know. Networking is always important.
But understand that every life experience is a learning lesson.
If you’re out of your job that does not make you a failure. What makes you fail is when you did not learn anything from your experience.
Understand this. There is neither disgrace nor shame to be laid off or to be out of job at a time like this. Only stupid people would look down at a jobless person during these difficult times.
As I face the group of people who are now jobless I said, “Hey guys, listen. You may see this whole experience as the loss of something precious or you may choose to look at it as a brand new start to do something else. Maybe you’ve always wanted to go into business, Maybe you’ve always put off that project you know you can do with your talent. You may want to look at this situation as a big vacation break – without pay of course – but a great time to reconsider priorities. Maybe it’s something as simple as spending a lot more time with the family. Giving time to the kids. Turn the experience into a growth experience. Downtime into Uptime.
The 5th principle and the last one in our series is this:
To do strategic thinking.
Strategic planning begins with strategic thinking, ask the following questions:
- What sets me apart?
- What (or where) is my comparative advantage?
Get a piece of paper. Divide it into 2 columns and list down your areas of strength and weaknesses.
This is the best time to look at yourself in the mirror and be honest with yourself.
When you were working, you probably did not bother, nor had taken the time to list down your true person. Sorting out the strengths from the weaknesses. You probably buried yourself to a lot of activities thinking you never needed any moment to do so.
But now you need to do it. This is part of strategic thinking and planning.