Staying relevant in a COVID-19 world
As I’m writing this, my heart is breaking for the lines of people I saw spaced out in a social distancing fashion outside of Centrelink this morning. A sense of helplessness washed over me and my natural instinct was to do what I can to help. I’ve taken calls from worried family, friends and clients who are all asking the same question – “what is happening in the job market and what should I do as/if/when I’ve lost my job”?
No one can predict the future, however the best advice I can give at the moment is to jump on the front foot and get as prepared as possible to stay relevant in this landscape which is changing by the hour!
This is what I’m saying to those people…….
Be proactive
Approach your employer and request a real, honest conversation about how secure your job future is with them, taking into account that it’s going to be a guesstimate. Ask them how the virus will affect business, what their strategy is moving forward and how long the business can last with declining revenues until staff need to be stood down. I’d also be reassuring them that you’ll give them 110% no matter what the answers are – let them understand the value & loyalty you bring to the table!
Innovate
Now is the time to use your skills and show your employer why they hired you in the first place. Can you suggest innovative new ideas on how to create alternative revenue streams, how to minimise costs or streamline efficiencies? Suggest a brainstorming session, get creative and come up new ways of doing business. This will not only show your employer how valuable you are, but is also a great way to turn a negative situation into a positive which in turn will help your mental health.
Diversify
How can you take your skills and create your own additional revenue? Preparing for the worst-case scenario i.e. your position is stood down, how can you start building some additional revenue streams to support yourself? Could you take your expertise and create an online program, take one of your hobbies and set up an online shop, create a blog with interesting and relevant content and monetise it with advertising? Toss some ideas around with your friends and family and ask them – what would you pay to learn from or buy from me? Who knows, you may even start up a new side hustle that you end up pivoting to at the end of all this!
Stay Connected
Nurture all your connections! Family, friends, previous bosses, peers, clients, industry contacts – the list goes on. Reach out to them and ask how they’re doing and don’t be afraid to leverage and explore any opportunities you hear about. Have your resume and LinkedIn profile updated and ready to go, just in case. Also be generous and connect people who you know can help each other – karma will pay off!
This is going to be a tough year, there’s no escaping that. We can however control the way we react and how we handle every situation/roadblock/opportunity that comes our way.
How can I help you? I’m here if you want to reach out and have a chat, give me a call or send me an email if you’re feeling uncertain, scared or just need a confidence boost!
We’re all in this together so learn on your community and be the best you can be in such uncertain times.
Be fabulous
Lisa xx