At Risk of Redundancy: 21 Ways to Respond When Your Job Is Threatened

In 2009, the effects of the global financial crisis of 2008 were in full swing. My employer, a global management consulting firm, had initiated several rounds of redundancies which eventually reached my team. What initially seemed like a distant possibility was now a reality. Huddled in a meeting room, I received the dreaded news that my role was at risk of redundancy. Initially stoic to the admiration of colleagues, further down the line as no alternative role was found for me, the gravity of the situation bore down, unleashing a torrent of emotions. The period that followed my exit from the firm could best be described as one of rollercoaster emotions with some days very traumatic as I desperately sought a new job, any job!

However, the unwelcome change led to a much-desired career pivot as I finally decided to consider and give expression to an option that had been on the back burner until now - aligning my daytime pursuits with my deep passion and hobby. Thus, my focus changed to Careers Coaching and Consulting to help others resolve their career transition challenges. The rest, they say, is history. Fifteen years down the line in my new career, I have had the opportunity to support several professionals and leaders from various countries on their own career journey. For some, they have experienced a surge in their self-esteem, others have achieved successes in job interviews, yet others have secured enviable remuneration packages through coaching support. The list goes on – better self and people leadership prowess etc.

Reflecting on my experience and journey to date, I've distilled my thoughts and reflections into 21 useful responses to the specter of redundancy for anyone whose job is at risk of redundancy:

Stay Calm and Positive: It's natural to feel anxious. You may find yourself experiencing a myriad of emotions - shock, denial, frustration, anger, depression etc. (Kubler-Rose, 1969). You may wonder ‘why me, why now’? You may even question if you made the right decision to join the organization in the first instance. While you may not stop the tendency to experience these emotions, and it is okay to reflect and learn from the past, you don’t want to allow the emotions to consume you neither do you want to be stuck in unhelpful thinking. Panicking or becoming overly stressed won't help the situation. Allowing emotions to cloud one’s judgment or deter one from seeing possibilities and taking the right steps to move forward isn’t helpful; it's essential to handle the situation calmly and strategically.

Mind your mindset: Your mindset matters – how you view yourself and frame the situation can make the difference between feeling energized and empowered or being deflated and defeated. Choose empowerment over victimhood, reframe the situation as an opportunity for growth, progress, or something new.

Assess the Situation: Understanding the reasons behind potential redundancy empowers right perspectives and informed decision-making. Is it due to company restructuring, performance issues, economic downturn, or something else?

Seek expert counsel: Expert counsel ensures clarity and protects your rights. Consult with a legal or financial advisor to understand your rights and options, especially regarding severance packages, unemployment benefits, or any contractual obligations.

Hope for the best: Hope fuels resilience, fostering the fortitude to weather adversity. Research suggests that hopeful people tend to experience better physical and mental outcomes. So, hope for the best immediate and eventual outcomes whether your job is later declared safe or if you need to move on.

Accept the reality: Progress begins with acceptance. Even though at this stage a final decision hasn’t been made, brace yourself for the possibility of change to empower proactive decision-making. The earlier you accept what may be your new normal, the better for you because you can take your destiny into your own hands and move forward.

Prepare for the Worst: While it's essential to remain optimistic, prudence dictates preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. A robust financial plan provides a safety net amidst uncertainty.

Explore Alternatives: Be open to exploring avenues for reinvention and upskilling to seize new opportunities if available within the organization or elsewhere.

Practice self-care: Job insecurity can be emotionally and mentally tasking. Self-care is paramount. Avoid being judgmental to yourself. Prioritize your mental and emotional well-being, seeking support when needed.

Plan your next steps: Planning breeds confidence. Anticipate scenarios and articulate your potential response. Even if the risk is eliminated, how can you better prepare should you be in a similar situation in the future?

Pray: I get energized when I pray. Inspiration comes when I pray. Courage comes when I pray. You can too.

Nurture your motivation: In addition to prayer, what gets you inspired and energized? Reading or listening to personal development content? Brainstorming sessions? Exercising? Socializing? Give attention to whatever positive interests get you going. Breakthrough ideas could result from this.

Build bridges not walls: It may be tempting to keep to yourself. Don’t do this. Reach out to others. Foster relationships, offer and receive any support available. Broaden and deepen your network. Build bridges to new horizons. Be a positive influence.

Practice gratitude: Gratitude shifts focus. What you focus on magnifies and consumes you. Use gratitude to shift your focus to all the positive memories about your life and career, particularly at the organization. What can you be grateful for – the opportunity to join the organization in the first instance? The brand association? The travel and perks etc? The relationships and networks? As you do this you may well discover ideas to maximize the moment.

Maximize the moment: It is not over until it is over, and it isn’t over yet. You are still part of the organization. Even in uncertainty, opportunity abounds. Seize the moment, take advantage of everything on offer – training, e-Learning, Coaching etc. Fine-tune your knowledge, skills, and capabilities. The best place to be for your next big chapter is to be the best in the moment.

Exemplify Professionalism: Regardless of outcome, professionalism endures. Upholding standards reflects integrity and can open doors to future opportunities, within the company or elsewhere.

Get market ready: Refresh your personal brand. Update your professional portfolio, refine your narrative, and fine-tune your storytelling for new beginnings.

Consider Your Legacy: Adopting a long-term perspective, contemplate the impact you wish to leave behind. What would you like to remember this moment for 20 years down the line? What would you like your colleagues to remember you for? Is that in place, if not what can you do about it? What tacit knowledge might your colleagues benefit from? How can you round up your contract on a high and leave with a bang? What do you have to lose?

Get feedback: Source feedback even if informal (or via LinkedIn) from willing clients, colleagues, and customers as appropriate where possible. This might help as you review your progress and consider your transferable skills. Of course, might help boost your self-esteem and confidence to face the future. Consider refreshing your LinkedIn profile with the relevant ones.

Document your achievements: Curate your contributions, impact, and value-add while you still have access to the organization’s portals.

Trust the process: When we define our destination, do all we know to do, keeping being curious, positive, and open, happenstance happens! We may run into new possibilities beyond our full comprehension.

Facing the risk of job loss can be challenging, but it can also present opportunities for growth and change. Whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Resolve to emerge stronger. Your best days are still ahead of you!

‘Tough times never last, tough people do’ – Robert H. Schuler"