For when you get laid off.

There has been a lot of layoff news released this week which made me want to address those who are going through these painful transitions. 

Being laid off is emotional and stressful.  In our society we equate what we do with our value as a person.  We love to hustle for our worth and achieve so we can feel good about ourselves. When we suddenly don’t have the successful career we built or the job that gives us purpose we have a sense of loss that is more than just that job – it’s a partial loss of identity. 

I’m sharing this not to judge it, but to normalize it. When you hold your career as a part of your self identity it can feel destabilizing and stressful to lose it. 

What makes a layoff even worse is our lack of control over it.  We’re used to being the ones to drive our career decisions. We spend years strategically moving towards the next step, over delivering, gaining skills, building teams and putting in massive effort. And suddenly, without our input the choice is made without us.  It can feel very isolating, impersonal and like a betrayal of trust. 

For those of you going through layoffs it’s totally normal and valid to have a lot of feelings about it. I am working with a client who is in the midst of job searching after leaving a career that she had for multiple decades.  She told me that she doesn’t know why but she ‘feels weird’.  And I told her yes, of course you feel weird.  This is not normal for you.  You’ve worked for 25 years and now you aren’t working. You should feel weird. 

So maybe you feel Weird. Sad. Stressed. Scared. Angry. 

Whatever you feel is okay. The first step towards moving forward is allowing whatever feelings you have to be there. You don’t have to jump into action, you don’t have to do right now. Let it be and let yourself be human. 

Working with a coach can be immensely helpful in processing these feelings and re-framing thoughts that are holding you back and limiting you.  Mindset can be a buzzword, but really what it comes down to is do you want to choose how you think about your life?  Or do you want the default thought track in your head to decide for you? 

Coaches help reflect your thoughts back to you so that you have the power to decide what you want to think on purpose. We help you investigate fears that feel big and nebulous – making them feel more approachable and realistic. We teach you to tap into your confidence in order to show up differently and get different results. We help you approach a situation with intentionality and thoughtfulness rather than panic and angst. 

If you are looking for support as you navigate a new normal, prepare for a job search, or explore  what your next career move looks like I can help.