Do You Know if You’re Getting Laid Off?

Welcome Conversation Artist!

I am very excited, this morning I finished writing my e-book: Art of Conversation. At the moment I’m working hard to bring to get it out on my website.

And I am also very excited to be presenting my power storytelling workshop to LOVE (Leave out Violence) in Vancouver.They are a wonderful charity who works with at risks youth teaching them.

Also please note, that I have moved my Art of Conversation Workshop to Aug 9th (Sunday) from 9am-5pm. If you are interested please feel free to contact me at 604-782-0801 or visit our website at www.conversationarts.com for more details.

Do You Know When You’re Getting Laid Off?

I was recently having a conversation with a close of friend of mine, who works for a very well known corporation. I asked her, “How important are social skils at work?”

She responded , “I think they are very important at work, and let me share with you a story. When the recession started hitting hard, and cutbacks were being made, one of the first people to be laid off was a senior manager. She would always do her job,and was quite technically superior at her job. But she never really talked to people at the office. She kept to herself and did what was needed to get the job done. The trouble was that no one really knew who she was, and I think that’s why she was one of the first to be let go, even after years of hard work. I don’t think the other managers and partners in the company found her personality fitting into the culture.”

As I listened to the story,and reflected on it afterward, these were the conclusions I came up with.

1) Your technical skills will get you so far in life. After that your soft skills such as communication,your personality and ability to work with others will help you keep the job you are in now. Seniority didn’t matter in that particular case, they were looking for a way to lay her off because quite frankly people didn’t feel that she fit in.

2) If people don’t know who you are, they aren’t going to care about you, and why will they defend you when they have to make decisions about who to lay off. You have to talk to people and get them to know you.  “I think she’s a hard worker” vs.”I really like working with her.” Do you see the difference? Which one has more power for you to remain at your job?

3) Take an interest in others at work. It’s the opposite of number 2. Not only do people need to understand your personality, you need to be able to take an interest in people at work. We are still human beings that want to be valued and listened to and not just treated like we’re another worker.

Call To Action:

Ask yourself? If you work inan environment with other co-workers and managers, what three actions can youtake to increase your social presence at work? In the next week, take thosethree actions and continue to be social at work.