Avoid “Fire Hazards” During Economic Crisis

If you’re feeling tension at work from every step of the corporate ladder, you already know the cause. Wall Street, Main Street and unemployment woes are converging in an unpredictable economic crisis mode.

Over the past 12 months, 2.2 million people joined the ranks of the unemployed. In September, non-farm payroll employment declined by 159,000 (according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics). And fear is running rampant as to how fast the economy is slipping.

Your job security is likely first and foremost on your mind at the moment. And one of the best things you can do in this environment is to avoid “fire hazards.”

Right now, senior management is likely reviewing plans for staff and expense reductions. From their vantage point, anything that unnecessarily slows down progress and profits will hurt competitiveness.

The bottom line is that the ax could fall on you due to layoffs, but your performance could help ward off such action in this more stringent, downsized corporate atmosphere.

You still have the opportunity to highlight and deploy your strengths to the benefit of yourself and your employer. The rest is beyond your control, but you have nothing to lose by trying. And you might find yourself achieving great success in the process.

For example, if you work for a Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT) who tends to be tantrum-prone or short-triggered, you will need to brush up on office diplomacy skills in order to move projects forward. (For more on this, read my recent article “Meet the Office Diplomats.”)

Some other steps to take include the following:

Stay alert to office news around you, but don’t join the gossip mill.

Stay more focused on your boss’s top priorities, and less on your own favorite projects.

Dedicate specific periods of the day for e-mail and phone calls to avoid constant distraction.

While multi-tasking is necessary, avoid jumping in and out of projects unnecessarily, out of fear. For example, if one boss walk in and needs assistance, get precise deadlines. Let your supervisors talk through your priorities if necessary; don’t drop everything according to the perceived crisis of the moment.

Lastly, take steps to relax outside the office with your favorite passions. This will help you keep your sanity, but it will also re-energize you to do your best work in a weakening economy.

Companies are on alert to stay “lean and mean.” While you don’t have ultimate control over who is fired, terminated or offered a leave as a cost saving measure during the sudden economic crisis, you can watch for “fire hazards” and take proactive steps to strengthen your position – perhaps even thrive in your organization.

Best regards,
Lynn

Got a TOT? You’re not alone! Dare to share your story at the TOT Blog with other TOT tamers in the making, while Lynn helps you: cope with difficult or childish bosses and office politics, and humanize your workplace™. Post your question for Lynn, and she will try her best to answer it in an upcoming TOT Tamer Advice Column. Be sure to visit www.tameyourtot.com.