Companies worldwide are cutting back so chances are yours will too. If the axe does fall, how do you stay out of harm’s way?
Before taking action, ask yourself the following questions, suggests Cape-based industrial psychologist Kat Farquharson:
- What gives you the competitive advantage?
- Why might your boss choose someone else over you?
“Jobs generally have two components to performance: task performance (what I do) and contextual performance (how I do what I do, which includes relationships with your employer and colleagues etc),” says Farquharson. “People who perform well on both are likely to be retained. People who perform well on task performance but not contextual performance are at more of a disadvantage than those who have excellent contextual performance,” she says.
Contextual performance includes persistence, enthusiasm, conscientiousness, initiative, co-operation, respect for authority, meeting deadlines, complying with organisational objectives and values, and volunteering extra-role activities. Individuals may need to start looking at their approach to work and make changes where necessary. Don’t be late, or absent inappropriately, Farquharson says. And keep your personal life to yourself. Broadcasting your personal difficulties will not improve your standing with your boss. In fact, what is often perceived as women executives’ greatest strength, communication, could count against them at times like this – if they over-share, particularly their anxieties.
Top 10 do’s and don’ts
Don’t…
- Clock watch. Being first at the lift at 5pm says you can’t wait to get of there
- Miss a deadline. Work late to get the job done if you have to. If you miss a deadline, there is usually a domino effect on your colleagues – and your boss.
- Whine about money. In lean times, there simply isn’t a lot of it going around. Being more passionate about your paycheck than your output says you’re only in it for the money.
- Be an ego maniac. Taking credit for others’ work is simple dishonesty. It’s like stealing. When the axe falls, your co-workers will be shouting your name.
- Gossip. Rumour-mongering is unsettling to co-workers. If passing on company news is not a key performance area on your contract, don’t do it.
Do…
- Take on additional work. But do it strategically, says Christopher Flett, author of What Men Don’t Tell Women About Business. Show initiative, but don’t say ‘yes’ to everything. Rather seek out priority projects that are important to your bosses or give you additional skills.
- Mind your temper. Women who lose their cool are perceived as less powerful and less competent than calmer co-workers, says a 2008 study from Yale University in the US.
- Stay on top. The more you know about your job, the more valuable you become. Keep abreast of trends by reading anything and everything related to your profession.
- Show a strong work ethic. “Don’t walk around saying, ‘It’s Wednesday, Friday will be here soon,” suggests management guru Andrew DuBrin. “Traditional values are still held in high esteem by most employers.”
- Manage your stress. US research shows that success is primarily influenced by good stress management. Take mini breaks from your desk, and get at least eight hours’ deep sleep a night.
However, even if you put all of these into practice, there are no guarantees. “There is a reality that if retrenchments come, some jobs and roles are vital to the organisation and its functioning, and some aren’t. If you do not have the type of job that the company cannot operate without, are you thinking long term about how to prepare yourself in case your job is made redundant”
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