Way too many people — from store clerks to bus drivers — have no control over being let go.
Others have a good deal of control and choices to make. Hopefully, your organization or business will make it through this horrible pandemic, but not without terrific strain on profits, endowments or donations. The leader of your business or organization, as you read this, is probably sweating about how to reduce costs and stay viable.
Where does your employer look to cut costs? Many expenses are fixed: rent, utilities, debt service. But staffing is not. You see where I’m going.
Implications for you:
Avoid complaining or spreading stress.
You’ve probably heard about mirror neurons, right? The neurons that cause you to yawn when someone else yawns? Stress can be communicable. We all have to vent sometime, but don’t become the stress-spreader-in-chief.
Now, about your list of ongoing work issues: Let me guess. Tops? A bad boss.
Bad bosses abound, even in normal times. 25% of my clients have bad bosses: the shouters, the micromanagers, the ego-underminers, the harassers. The list goes on.
Usually I counsel my clients to manage up: raise workplace issues and try to get changes made — and find another job if things don’t change.
But now isn’t the time for raising issues — other than ones that affect your health or safety, especially Covid-related lack of precautions.
Almost everyone — including your boss — is more tense. Everyone has more challenges, whether it’s cutting costs at work, coping with enforced telework, safety, or domestic problems. Some people maintain an outer calm, even joking a lot, but are tense underneath.
Your stressed boss won’t be happy hearing that you have been griping, or doing negative stuff that he/she has to fix.
Right now, it’s especially hard to stay on the high road. Try not to slip off. There are many good resources for maintaining resilience. A favorite of mine: www.lindagraham-mft.net. Sign up for her brief weekly blog.
Think about your next job.
One way to blow off steam — productively — is to brainstorm about where you want your career to go — after the storm.
More on this in future blogs. But consider starting by making two columns listing what you want — and don’t want — in your current job, or your next job, whenever that can happen.
Be part of the solution.
- Maybe you can think of ways — even small ways — to control costs or increase efficiency. You are in a better position to see certain possibilities than your boss. Suggesting them (without being pushy) will make you appreciated.
- Think forward. Is there a way your business or organization can develop new goods or services to serve in the current situation? Or to prosper coming out of COVID and the recession?
- Share your ideas. Start or join informal talks about positive ideas. (I appreciate that sometimes everyone needs to vent fears — just choose the right settings.) Take positive ideas to your boss.
I know it’s much harder than this. Hopefully this blog gave you one idea that might work for you.