A 5 POINT STRATEGY FOR ENSURING YOUR JOB SECURITY

Think Job Security is a thing of the past? Think again. While it may be true that no one is exempt from a downsizing, layoff, or unexpected re-organization in today’s economic climate, that doesn’t have to mean you have no job security. Today’s workers simply need to redefine what job security really is given the competitive environment we live in, and where security comes from. You can (and should) have a sense of job security, but it won’t come from your employer. You must give it to yourself. Your number one priority, if you wish to have career longevity and fulfillment, is to remain highly employable. Here’s a proven 5 point strategy to ensure you have security in an uncertain job economy.

1. Under-promise, over-deliver
2. Nurture Your Network
3. Invest in Your Competence
4. Have a Plan B and Plan C Ready to Execute
5. Build Your Reserves

UNDER PROMISE and OVER DELIVER
The first strategy is simply to outperform your peers. Under promising may sound like a lethal career strategy, but in reality it’s the opposite, as long as you consistently over deliver. Bosses and peers become most frustrated with those who make empty promises, right? These are the people who OVER promise and then consistently UNDER perform. By getting really skilled at setting reasonable expectations, building in time for the unexpected (which you can almost always expect!), and then meeting or beating every agreed upon target, how much does that increase your value to the organization? Lots. People want to know what to expect and be wowed. Wow! them with your performance, not your promises. Valuable employees manage to escape much of the corporate shake ups, even when the shake ups hit their home turf. Create a reputation for being someone who delivers value and you’ll add a lot of staying power to your career.

NURTURE YOUR NETWORK
Do you maintain relationships with a diverse group of peoplefrom close friends to casual business acquaintances? Or is your social life basically built around the coffee pot and bagel box at work? When faced with changing jobs (by choice or not), it is important that you have strong, reliable network in place. You don’t want to be building up relationships at a time when you need them mostit drains your energy and looks and feels too desperate! You want to continually work toward having strong relationships with a variety of contacts because you enjoy them and they enjoy you. These relationships are in the spirit of helping whenever it’s needed. You may include professional contacts within and outside your employer, as well as a diverse group of acquaintances through community, school, and social circles. Stay plugged in with others. It can make the difference between a long and difficult job search, and a smooth job change.

INVEST IN YOUR COMPETENCE
Staying current in your field is critical to long term employabilitya.k.a. ’security’. If your employer provides some of this, great! Take them up on it. But if they don’t (as many are cutting back here), take it upon yourself. Create your own professional development plan. Find professional associations, training programs, published material (books, internet sites, magazines and journals, etc) and/or mentors/peers that can help you stay abreast of trends and issues impact your field, industry and geographical area. In order to be employable (whether at your current employer or somewhere else), you have to be current and be able to talk about future trends. If your most recent ‘update’ to your knowledge, skills, or abilities was the day you walked down the aisle to pick up your degree (and that wasn’t last year), then you’ve got to develop a plan to get in the game. Allocate 2 hours a week, or even a month, to getting and staying current or learning something completely new. A high level of competence sells no matter the economy.

HAVE A PLAN B READY TO EXECUTE
You may not be ‘expecting’ to lose your job or be re-organized into the job from he**, but who is? The point is -always be ready, willing, and able to do something else. If you love what you do, then all you need is a current resume and job search plan in your back pocket at all times. Your plan B should include the network and competencies pieces discussed in this article. If you think you might like to try something new then you definitely must start creating that plan. What would you need to know in order to make a move into something new? Who would you need to know? What would be the first 3 things you would do if you were no longer employed? Create your plan B and start working on gathering some of the key pieces (information, contacts, experiences, etc.). Pull it out every so often, update it, and keep it working for you. It’s like job security insurance. It’s there when you need it. And then, create your Plan C. You just never know.

BUILD UP YOUR RESERVES
Are you prepared for a job loss should one occur unexpectedly? Do you have reserves of money to carry you through 6-12 months without a regular paycheck? Do you have reserves of confidence in your ability to land on your feet and make the most of whatever comes your way? Do you have reserves of energy to conduct a full scale job search? Do you have strong, stable friendships that could and would support you if you needed them?

Having a strong reservefinancially, physically, emotionally, and sociallywill help you be strong and confident before, during, and after any career challenge or change. This level of confidence keeps you afloat and, in fact, makes you more attractive as an employee (because you are strong and confident!). You may be less affected by a corporate shake-up and not have to draw upon your reserves. But, if you need them, they are there for you. How secure is that?!

Employers are no longer able to provide the kind of job security they once did. But that doesn’t mean we all have to walk around vulnerable and stressed. Create your own brand of job security and take control of your career. After all, it’s YOUR careerit doesn’t belong to the company anymore. And that can be a great thing!

This article may be reproduced, in its entirety, along with the following information:

© 2006, Shawn Driscoll, Succeed Coaching & Development. This article is provided courtesy of Shawn Driscoll, Career Success Coach and owner of www.succeedcoaching.com. Professionals: upgrade your work life today! We provide products and services to help you succeed at work, in business and in life. Sign up to receive your free Success Wise ezineand get success tips, inspiration, and resources to skyrocket your successat www.succeedcoaching.com.

Shawn Driscoll, owner of Succeed Coaching & Development, partners with motivated professionals to dramatically improve the quality of their career and lives. She challenges clients to stop struggling and sacrificing in the name of making a living and inspires them to re-define success on their own terms. Pick up your free copy of her special success report “How to Chart Your Course for Success and Fulfillment” at http://www.succeedcoaching.com/report.html.

Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first job interview. Perhaps you were speaking to a group for the first time. Maybe you were starting a challenging new career or meeting a special person for the first time. Your throat became dry and your knees wanted to shake.

You were about to leave a place of mental and emotional safety. You were putting your skills on the line and taking a risk. If you were successful, there could be great reward. However, self-doubt was trying to discourage you.

Confidence is essential in our lives; without it, we will not make the first attempt to do what we really want. Confidence allows us to move forward despite temporary discouragement. So where does confidence come from, and how can we become and remain confident? Here are seven actions that will help to develop unshakable confidence.

1. Expand Your Knowledge

Gaining new skills for any endeavor – personal or career – is the first step toward confidence. Identify key areas where you need more confidence to be successful. Then expand your knowledge by taking courses, reading books, and attending learning events. Tele-classes are enjoyable and convenient for learning and discussing ideas with a peer group. Continuous learning is essential for maintaining a high level of confidence.

2. Experience Small Successes

Confidence also comes from experiencing small daily successes. They are like rewards for putting knowledge into action. They may not be the final goal. Yet they are important. Even a pat on the back from a colleague or a compliment for a job well done will boost a person’s level of confidence. Keep track of each small success you experience. You will begin to feel your confidence grow day by day.

3. Exercise Passionate Faith

Confident people have faith that the Creator has a special plan for their lives. They appear to know inherently that when they follow this plan, they will be successful. If you want to achieve something, you absolutely must believe that it is possible for you. You must believe firmly in your potential. A passionate faith will lead you to find and follow that purpose.

4. Enable Firm Resolve

There will be disappointments and set backs. It is natural to become discouraged at times. However, disappointments are not the end of the road if we view them as learning tools.

Faith in your abilities will lead you past discouragement into a firm resolve. Resolve overcomes obstacles because it displays patience. Instead of giving up, you will meet challenges by continuing through difficult times. Keep your mind on your intended outcome, not on the obstacles. Think of reasons why you can, not reasons why you cannot.

With time, talents develop and abilities grow. Then you will get a taste of what is possible — a measure of success that leads you forward with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm keeps you fired up to achieve more of those small daily successes.

5. Enlist Expert Help

Enlist the help of experts in areas where you need more confidence. Experts can be found though books, articles, videos, seminars, or via a phone call. A professional coach will help you stay focused on your objectives and hold you accountable for taking the necessary actions to complete your plans.

Confidence also attracts more confidence. Experts will support your plans and offer to help you in tremendous ways if you are enthusiastic and believe in your goals. Moreover, when you show confidence in others, they will show confidence in you.

6. Envision Confidence

Envisioning confidence begins to make confidence real in your experience. Imagine how you will feel and act if you already had the confidence you need for a specific situation. See yourself in your mind’s eye, acting with courage and conviction. Hold that picture in your mind, and your vision will start to become real.

7. Expect to be Confident

Expectation is faith in action. Now that you have imagined how confidence will feel, act as if you were already confident. Move assuredly and energetically as you go for your goals. You are now seeing, feeling, and acting in a confident manner. You will achieve what you expect. Expect to be confident, and you will become confident.

Give yourself time to increase your confidence by using these actions during the next several months. Get a sheet of paper now and write down how you will apply each of these actions. They can make a tremendous difference by allowing you to move more quickly and assuredly toward your objectives. Today, you can begin developing an unshakable confidence that will bring you joy and success in every area of your life.

© Copyright 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional success coach who assists individuals to achieve their objectives and lead joyous confident lives. Get Steve’s popular ezine, Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, bringing inspirational and motivational nuggets to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Visit http://www.AchieveEzine.com