Navigating through difficult workplace phase

NAIROBI: Difficult phases at work may be occasioned by a number of factors such as civil strife, political instability, heightened competition, globalisation and reduced consumer demand, among others. Mergers and acquisitions are also quite common nowadays, as companies compete for a piece of the global market.

Such periods are usually stressful. The fear of losing a job during such times is real and employees may tend to get lost in endless worries and self-pity. If you are going through such a phase, avoid being in denial.

OWN SURVIVAL

Accept things are rough and act responsibly for your own survival. Never do anything in a hurry as anxiety and fear can lead to rushed and misguided decisions. Take time to observe and assimilate the situation. Remember good decisions are best taken with complete information. Don’t take things personally. Take time to grief if need be and ready yourself to move on.

With the possibility of hard times ahead, it is important to immediately cut down on unnecessary expenditure at the personal front. Ensure you communicate well with those who matter at home to avoid conflicts and misunderstanding.

You might also need to reorganise your financial obligations to avoid getting into trouble. For instance, if you have a loan, talk to your financier and agree on an adjustment to take care of your situation. Then analyse your options carefully. In some cases, jobs may be merged or scrapped altogether. As such, it is important to know where you stand and what is likely to happen. Be adaptable.

You cannot afford to be choosy in an already dicey situation. It is also important to position yourself strategically as the company evolves through the phase. In so doing, you might need to be more proactive and involved at work. Ensure you bring out your best in skills and experience during such a time.

Unfortunately, most people tend to do the exact opposite. Take note that taking a back seat during such a period will most likely consign you to the career dustbin. This is also a time to activate your crucial networks.

Be keen and alert to observe the on-goings in the work. The worst that can happen is to be caught unawares by some unfortunate development. Survivors are cheerful and stubborn. You may not control the situation but you can surely control your reaction to it. Avoid getting into negative group dynamics. Remember things are rough for everyone and managers tend to have less patience for trouble makers during such a time.

You can also make some sacrifices. Note that some rights and privileges may be withheld and making a fuss about them will just put you on the wrong spotlight. Rather, volunteer the much-needed ideas and plans necessary to turn around things. Remember that in some cases, all it takes is a simple stroke of genius.

Have a contingency exit plan in place. Update your curriculum vitae and start looking around for opportunities. It may take a while to get settled once again, but it is not an impossible feat. Remember that many more have been through such times and survived to tell their story.

-The writer is a human resources specialist at Peoplelink Consultants Ltd. Email: goretti@peoplelink.co.ke