Your job is on the line

There are rumors in the breakroom. Executives think they can keep it quiet, but somehow, there are leaks.

Layoffs are happening soon.

You begin to assess yourself.  Was I able to hit my targets? Am I in trouble?  Could I be getting the pink slip?

What are the signs that your job could be in jeopardy?

I have heard stories from friends, I have listened to bosses, and I have interviewed executives about these things.  These are some indications that your job could be on the line:

1. Your immediate boss is no longer that accessible.

Your boss becomes hard to find. Your email to your boss does not get a reply. You call and she says that things are busy, and that she will call back, but she never does.

If you find yourself in a situation like this, do not ignore it. You need to find a way to speak to your superior and ask for feedback. It may be difficult, but this carries a bigger chance for a turnaround—as opposed to just doing nothing and hoping for the best.

2. Important responsibility is given to someone else.

There was a time when you used to be so busy that it was difficult to squeeze in another project.  Now you wonder why you are not busy at all and why an important project that normally would have been assigned to you is given to someone else.

3. You have not been included in this year’s leadership training program.

Your boss disapproved your attending a seminar, joining an association luncheon, or enrolling in a class.  All initiatives for your personal development have ceased.

It would be good for you to ask why all of these are happening, but chances are, your days are numbered.  The company you are working for is no longer willing to invest in your growth.

4. You have been reprimanded, disciplined or given a memo recently.

You have been warned. You are constantly late, you did not meet your sales or production goals, and you are having problems with your co-workers.

The memo given you is an official warning. The disciplinary action is to let you know you’re already near the edge.  If you don’t shape up, then you might be on the short list of those who will be let go.

5. You become expensive to maintain.

In many cases, the company is probably going through financial troubles, and the mandate is for radical cost-cutting measures. A software program replaces your work.  Meanwhile, you do not possess other skills that can be of use to the company.

Maybe you are working for a small company and a business Goliath has acquired it. It is very likely that they already have people who can do your job. When the new management declares redundancy, it is very likely that the person from the buying company will replace you.

So how do you keep your job from being on the line?

Change happens.  This is why I have always emphasized the need for everyone to make himself or herself indispensable: to learn more skills, to pursue personal growth and to possess skills agility.

Tenure or seniority is no longer a safe position you can hold on to. Humble yourself, work on your attitude, and dump the entitlement mentality. Improve your skills, work hard on yourself, and set a standard of excellence for your job.

Management guru Warren Bennis puts it this way, “The factory of the future will have only two employees: a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment.”

This is Bennis’ exaggerated way of saying that one day, machines will take over humans.  This is already partly true. Think ATM. Think outsourcing.  But here is the deal: you have to work on becoming so valuable that even dogs and machines cannot exist without you, your expertise, and your excellence.  Never be complacent.  Never be obsolete.

(Spend two inspiring days with Francis Kong learning leadership and life skills as he presents Level Up Leadership on January 21-22 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910, or call 632-6310912 for details.)