Make the most of the situation by Jolito Ortizo Padilla.. Included in my book Emotional Intelligence: Putting Things in Proper Perspectives

 

    When times are uncertain for  business it is easy to lose focus in your career: Jolito Ortizo Padilla suggests what you can do to avoid worrying and make the most of the situation.

Whether or not your job is under immediate threat, it's time for a quick review of where you stand from two different, but not mutually exclusive, perspectives.

First, you need to look at the situation from your organizational role. How well do you understand the immediate objectives and concerns of your company? Those firms that have developed ambitious long-term plans may now have immediate concerns about cash.

Does your team understand how the current doom and gloom will affect their employment prospects? As a manager, if you do not open or maintain excellent communication channels with your staff, the rumour-mongers certainly will.

Recognition is even more important in times of uncertainty. How often do you take the time to thank your staff, colleagues and suppliers?

You also need to consider which of your key suppliers are most vulnerable in the current marketplace. How can you help them and what contingency plans need to be developed? And who else should be kept informed of this?

The current economic situation may prevail for some time. While others in the organization may have their heads down, keep yours up so that you can see the opportunities they miss. At the same time as examining  your role in the organization, you should think about your career development.

Draw a circle on a piece of paper and divide it into eight segments:each one should represent an area of skills, knowledge, or your experience you would need to do the job you would love to have. In each of these segments score yourself out of 10, with 10 being excellent. Now you can start planning how to increase your score in each area.

Read and learn from books about your particular business or the business leaders you most admire, or search the internet for inspirational downloads you could listen to on your iPod on the way to work.

Think through what it is you like and dislike about your current position. How can you arrange to do more of the things you enjoy? The chances are that these will be the things that you are good at, and increased focus on them will undoubtedly improve your performance and skills.

It is also important to get broader experience from accepting more responsibility or participating in a current or new project or team.

Don't forget to renew and maintain old contacts. Anecdotal evidence suggests that majority of jobs are not advertised.

This environment will create a career differentiation  between those that "went through it" and those that learnt powerful lessons from it.

But why worry? Worrying can be so debilitating. Take action. Do things that you can do- maybe as suggested above-as I've done it during my trying times in the Middle East -  but worrying will not help and it could adversely affect other parts of your life.