Edition: May 26th, 2021
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Excerpts from article by Devashish Chakravarty, published in the Economic Times
Since early 2020, you have been pushed to the edge at least once, either through a professional or personal crisis, and have started seeing things differently.
With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to wreck havoc, you worry about the next crisis that may strike your life.
If that’s the case, take a look at the below-mentioned tips. Here’s how you can deal with the unforeseen changes caused by the pandemic:
1. Ensure financial safety
As a professional, this is a time to ensure your survival so that you continue to compete in your career. Apart from staying safe in the pandemic, it’s also important to maintain a healthy cash flow even if you lose your job.
Create a cash reserve through liquid savings, a job/income insurance plan, and access to instant financial support through friends/ lenders.
2. Choose your priorities
A crisis is not just about physical survival. If you are an emotional mess, you will not be able to close a job interview or retain your current one. As a professional, you need to not just hold it together but hold your flame higher in a crisis.
There are two things to do. Firstly, focus on your real priority and secondly, let your career choices support that priority.
3. Be honest
Look in your WhatsApp groups and Twitter. People in need of help are asking for it directly. A crisis is a time to be honest and outgoing in asking for or offering help. If you need a job, a change of role or immediate cashflow in your business, go out there and ask for help.
Commit that you can start work immediately. Communicate clearly and concisely, what you are able and willing to do. However, if you are not in a crisis, negotiate to get the best offer.
4. Become the ‘least important’ person
In that crisis, become the least significant person in the room – one who is willing to do the grunt work that’s required.
Being that person during a workplace crisis, makes you indispensable, ensures your own survival, and gives you continuous learning that never comes to those who continue to pick and choose their tasks.
5. Help others
Switch from your own crisis to helping others in theirs. The habit of giving even in a crisis reduces anxiety and restores the feeling of control in your life. At the workplace, help people without jobs to get back on their feet or an ill colleague with a deadline.
Think of it as an investment in a ‘favour bank’ or in professional relationships of unknown value that will compound over time!
6. Trust your instincts
Confused about a decision? Go with your gut feeling. A change in role or budget might exclude you from decisions or information, and you may feel left out at work.
If your gut tells you to start looking out, do so. You will be better off ignoring your physical comfort zone and seeking a new opportunity.
7. Think long term
Survive, invest, stay and pivot is a simple four step strategy to do well in the short and long term.
You started with ensuring survival. Next, invest daily in your long term career goals. Next, stay in the game – do not take a break because you had a failure. You will lose out on compounded benefits. Finally, be willing to pivot. What worked in the past may stop working for you due to the pandemic or other changes in your world. If something new works for you now, accept it and change direction.
The ‘5 Fs’ of choices
1. FIGHT
As a human, you can accept what’s causing you stress or choose to change it. The first choice you have is to fight the change. Fight for status quo. Confront your team lead, HR, CFO or management to hold on to your role, project, budget or job. Decide which battle to fight.
2. FLIGHT
Flight is the easiest choice, and de-stresses you immediately. Exit the situation that is causing the change.
3. FUSS OVER
You choose to fuss over and negotiate a better deal for yourself instead of running away or fighting for status quo. You are happy to speak up and negotiate an agreement.
4. (RE)FRAME IT
You can choose to accept the external change. Change how you describe the situation to yourself – framing it to induce a positive attitude. This opens up new opportunities for you even if a door closes.
5. FREEZE IT OUT
Richard Bach, the author of Illusions, says: If you really want to remove a cloud from your life, you do not make a big production out of it, you just relax and remove it from your thinking. If this technique works for you, ignore and freeze out the change.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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