By Bernadette Kenny
Article provided by CareerCoach from LHH.
With the world of work as well as the world at large, seeming
more and more unstable having the capacity to remain flexible and
self-reliant in the midst of such ambiguity and change has never
been more important. This is especially true in dealing with your
career. It seems that the ability to confront constant change and
stay productive comes naturally to some people, but resilience is
a strength others must develop. The good news is that with some
effort it can be done.
Moreover, since 9/11 more employers recognize the value of
personal resilience. Certainly no one expects employees to bounce
back immediately from such a catastrophe, but companies are
increasingly aware that employees need to have the tools to
remain effective in the face of stress and upheaval. Whether
employees are dealing with global issues such as terrorist
threats or rising unemployment or more personal matters like
surviving a downsizing or reporting to a new supervisor, there's
the need to adjust to the disruptions, recover from the stress,
and maintain high levels of productivity.
A weak economy can certainly test your resilience. A job loss
can be enormously stressful, but so can staying in a job you
don't want, or with a company where earnings are off and morale
is poor. Unfortunately, this situation is probably true for half
the workforce.
Put it another way. In boom times it seems like everyone's a
hero, or at least good at the job. In times of crunch, however,
you have to reach into yourself for less obvious strengths and
skills. If you're employed, you have to show up, be productive
and contribute to the overall well being of the workplace. If
you're unemployed you've still got to show up and be productive,
but this time to find the right new job for yourself.
