I don’t know about your newsfeed, but mine is full of articles indicating some sign is flashing red for a recession. Every once in a while, there is one that suggests we are far from a recession. If a recession is coming, how are you securing your job? What can you do to reduce your chances of being laid-off?
To recession-proof your job, focus on excelling in these eight key areas. Even if you aren’t falling for the hype a recession is coming, you should focus on these areas because they also help you advance your career.
Being a strong communicator
Communication encompasses active listening, articulate speaker, and effective writing. It is something we are always improving, and active listening is the one we fail at the most. Communication builds and maintains relationships, facilitates innovation, and ensures transparency. Communication is tied directly to the growth of an organization. As a result, practice and improve these three areas of communication. Enhancing your communication reduces your chances of being laid off during a recession.
Problem-solving and critical thinking skills
A recession causes unique problems for businesses to solve if they are to survive. Problem-solving skills are essential at any career level. It is the ability to handle difficult or unexpected situations as well as sophisticated business challenges. People with problem-solving skills asses these situations and calmly identify solutions. Critical thinking complements problem-solving skills because it is thinking rationally about what to do. It includes the ability to be reflective and think independently. As a result, these two skills will help you keep your job during a recession.
Being a goal setter and deliverer recession-proofs your job
Goal setters make things happen and as a result, have a lower chance of losing their job during a recession. More than likely, your employer has some form of goal setting. Keep your goals easy to access, and check your progress often. Talk through your progress regularly with your manager in your one-to-one. Raise your hand if goals are going to be delayed and ask your manager to help you prioritize them. Be known as a goal-setter and deliverer because it lowers your chances of losing your job in a recession and advances your career.
Being highly self-motivated is a characteristic of an exceptional employee
It can be hard for organizations to keep their employees motivated during a recession. Being someone who is highly self-motivated helps you keep your job if a recession were to happen. A highly motivated person not only works hard but is proactive. They look for things to do without being asked. Self-motivated employees are an asset and as a result, will help you keep your job during a recession.
Responsible and accountable secures your job during a recession
Knowing what you need to do, and getting it done is responsibility. Demonstrating responsibility will make you dependable, which is a highly desired trait during a recession. Being accountable is how you respond and take ownership of the results — identifying what went right and what could have been better. You own your role in something, no matter the outcome. When you are responsible and accountable, you lower your chances of losing your job during a recession.
Practicing gratitude helps you keep your job during a recession
Gratitude transforms the workplace because it fosters a positive environment. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. It is a readiness to show appreciation and to return thanks. Work is hard, and most people feel undervalued. However, practicing gratitude demonstrates people are valuable. Making people feel good will make them want to be around you and for that reason, practicing gratitude improves your chances of keeping your job during a recession.
A positive mindset is essential to keep your job
Recessions make life hard, and they cause a lot of uncertainty. There can be a lot of whispers of who may be on a layoff list. Secret meetings held by the leadership team causes more speculation. People will experience a tailspin into a dark and negative mindset. It can be a huge distraction. So if you are someone who has a positive mindset and a can-do attitude, you lower your changes or losing your job during a recession. Employers know that to survive in a recession, a positive mindset is non-negotiable. Negative naysayers are the first names on the layoff list. For that reason, keep a positive mindset and keep your job during a recession.
Being likable helps retain your job
When a company downsizes due to a recession, they carefully chose who the new smaller team will be. All of the points above certainly position you to be on that team. Another important trait that helps secure your job in a recession is likability. Likeability is being confident and comfortable in your skin. People gravitate toward likable people because they are genuine and as a result, are trustworthy. During a recession when companies are downsizing, they want to retain employees they can trust. For that reason, being a likable person helps secure your job during a recession.
There are no guarantees for keeping your job during a recession. By practicing, refining, and improving your skills in these eight areas will improve your chances. Even if a recession isn’t coming, building these eight skills should be a focus because they are also what help you advance your career.
