Carol Mote, managing director, Verdant Futures 

At the moment, day on day, many individuals are having to face bleak news at work. Perhaps their job has been identified as one to change, or as one to cut out of the organisation. Either way, even when the news might have been expected, once received, it presents a significant challenge to manage well.

For others, the approaching New Year might be just the right time to be considering a new role however with market unrest, the risks associated with moving seem high.

Finishing well

Approaching the end of a time period with one company, individuals need to ‘dig deep’ within themselves and take a conscious decision to finish well. There may have been ups and downs in the role that they undertook, however at the point of leaving, rather than recriminations or negative comments, it is the perfect time to remind the organisation of just what a great worker you are. That is not said lightly, for those who have been treated poorly it takes immense emotional strength to decide to be pro-actively positive.

Finishing well has two specific, key benefits;  firstly it ensures that you leave on a ‘high note’ rather than a low one and secondly it helps you to prepare for the next stage in your career;  a job elsewhere.

Often when individuals are given no choice about leaving an organisation, this is taken by them as a personal statement about their work capability or achievements. In many circumstances this is simply not the case; the truth of the situation is that the corporate operational business model is no longer deliverying the required returns; its not personal, its business.  – however personal it feels. For those people who can adjust their mindset to embrace this commercial reality,  they have the best opportunity of moving on quickly and successfully.

Redundancies

In the 1990s when many redundancies were made across Europe, I worked with a manufacturer who was turning thousands of employees away at the door, as they arrived at work. Security were giving the individuals their boxed up personal affects that had been in their offices; and a weighty cheque to help them on their way.  It was incredibly tough on all those affected, however it was also commercially a flawed business decision. 

Emotional involvement

Several weeks later, many of those who had been dismissed in this way were telephoned and asked whether they might come back on a contract basis as their knowledge was still required in some areas. Many individuals couldn’t face going back and turned down these lucrative contracts; others who were able to manage the emotional involvement well, took up the contract and remained working with the company some years later. Extraordinary things can happen when you are open to considering a new perspective.

Flying Colours

This experience, plus many others led to the creation of Flying Colours – thriving through change – online affordable coaching. Among many other things, Flying Colours acts a conduit for work based challenges, assisting individuals to consider every situation that they face at work with a refreshing perspective.  

Advancement

Through challenging perspective, individuals gain an understanding and momentum for seeking out opportunities for learning and/or advancement. Advancement at work can be achieved in many ways, it isn’t always about a promotion -  it can be gaining recognition for coping well during a time of crisis, it can be about repositioning your abilities in order that you leave with helpful network connections, it can be about using time-on-your hands to write articles or create new projects which you find fulfilling.

Thriving through change

Helpful during a significant period of change is someone who is outside of your situation and can provide you with non-emotive insight and thoughtful guides to stretch your capability. Each of us has an incredible ability to do more than we are doing and to find a sense of satisfaction about doing our jobs well – even in the midst of tough situations. The difference between those who grow through change, and those who don’t; is recognition that for things to be different, you have to be different, to thrive through change, you have to be open to changing.