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approach may be the key to ensuring the employee survives in this company during challenging times.
DEVELOP A UNIQUE SKILL It is time employees start to differentiate themselves to break away from the crowd. In selecting candidates for job interviews, I notice that it is rare to find those who stand out. It is very common today to have candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and even with an MBA. The idea is to develop a unique skill which is relevant and useful to the company and which no one else in the company has. For example, one senior person who worked in the administrative office of a company which was going through a financial crisis was retained and promoted while many of her colleagues were asked to leave. The reason was she not only had administrative experience and skill but also had the added advantage of experience and certification in the area of change management. She was promoted to Change Manager to lead an organization transformation project.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY During a crisis, speedy actions are required. Companies need employees to take charge and get things moving. Those who are willing to take responsibility, address issues and solve problems are highly valued. Often staff complain that companies are not grateful. In trouble times, they argue that companies seem to
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forget their past contributions. An employee is indeed as good as his or her current performance. To ensure their bosses continue to remember their achievements, staff should stop the blaming. They should instead start to lead and take the necessary actions to counter the current business slowdown and improve performance in whatever way they can.
BE A CHANGE AGENT During a business slowdown, many would sit around waiting to see what would happen. They argue that there is no point in working hard as the company might just fold up. Such defeatist thinking is detrimental. One does not need to be crystal ball reader to know that if everyone does nothing in a declining business situation, the company’s closure would become a reality. Instead, why not start identifying the critical changes in your area or function which you can undertake to help the company. This is the time to mobilise all your knowledge, skills and effort to pull everyone together and turn around the company. Lead a change initiative; be it a productivity improvement program or a business transformation program – be a change agent, make a difference and be noticed!
GO THE EXTRA MILE Recession is not a time to panic and shirk responsibilities. It is a time for greater commitment to working together to overcome whatever
challenges that come in the way. Practice the work philosophy of “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. This is the time to put in the extra hours, stretch one’s limits, tap into creativity and do whatever it takes to succeed. In such critical times, the results would speak for themselves. There is no running away from going the extra mile to achieve the desired results. The late 33rd President of the United States, Harry Truman used to quip, “It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.” It does not matter whether there is a storm of recession or depression coming; for as long as one adopts the above positive work behaviours at the workplace one will be wanted and welcome everywhere. Job security lies not in companies, but with the individual himself – his recession-proof mindset. Dr Victor SL Tan is an international change authority who undertakes change management consulting and seminars. He is the author of 11 change management books. His most recent book is Leading Positive And Profitable Change. His latest program is on Developing A Recession Proof Mindset. For comments, WhatsApp him at 012 3903168 or email him at victorsltan@klscc.com.
Malaysia Retailer Vol 8 No 2
