In this age of austerity perhaps the worst thing that can happen to you in your professional life is being made redundant. Having your position put at risk and then going through the consultation period is a time of tremendous stress and it’s now, more than ever, that it’s important to utilise your strengths and do your best to remain positive.
I was made redundant myself back in 2011, I will never forget arriving at work one day to find an invitation to meet with my boss – and one of the HR team – in the office of the CEO equivalent. I had an hour in which to panic and imagine every possible scenario.
The sheer panic you feel initially is quickly replaced by thoughts of “why me?” and then by a degree of anger. Redundancy certainly tests your resilience and strength of character but if you try to step back and view it with a positive attitude and a determination to succeed, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In fact, it could be the start of something amazing.
Being made redundant can often open doors to new experiences – I used my redundancy pay to buy a franchise and although I’m no longer running the franchise, I’m still working for myself and am now doing something I’d never dreamt I’d be doing in a million years. Once you’ve emerged from the other side of redundancy, you’ll find you feel more confident about yourself and your ability to survive what life throws at you. It will also boost your sense of self-worth as you successfully navigate through another of life’s obstacles.
Our tips for facing redundancy are:
Redundancy can have a negative impact on you. If you are prone to thinking negatively, you may think things like, 'I know they will pick me – I'm bound to lose my job,' or 'if I lose my job people will think I'm such a failure.'
Negative thinking won’t do you any favours, and will ramp up your stress and anxiety levels when you most need to think clearly. If you often think this way, try writing down some of your negative thoughts and then challenge them. Where's the evidence for your thoughts? Are they based on facts or are you 'fortune telling'. When you look closely at negative thoughts you soon realise they have little, if any validity.
Even if you do face redundancy, think of it as an opportunity, not a disaster. Do you really love your job? Does it fulfil you? Often the answers are no and no. So why not use this as your chance to do something you're passionate about? Think outside the box (perhaps with the help of a coach, friend or colleague) to focus on your strengths; what you enjoy and would like to have more of in your daily life; whether you need retraining or can switch to a more stable job sector. Use your redundancy package wisely and invest in yourself and your career. Remember jobs are like relationships – it’s a two way street and if you’re being made redundant maybe you can find a role (just like a person) that’s considerably better for you.
• Think about the Future
One of the worst aspects of redundancy is that the future seems uncertain and out of our control – which is one of the key triggers for stress and anxiety. The sooner you take back that control by planning for the future, the more strength and resilience you will feel. Think about your options, both those listed above and changes to your home life. Could you downsize to take the financial pressure off? Or let your partner be the breadwinner while you spend more time with your kids? Don't sit back and let life happen to you – it's far too short and precious for that.
If you’d like some help to discover your strengths, get in touch at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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