We have probably all been there. We have just taken a new job or new role thinking pretty highly of our abilities and skills. But soon, we start wondering if you really are capable. Your confidence begins slipping. Pretty soon, you start wondering if you are even the right person at all to do this job. Shattered confidence can be disastrous unless we stop it from overtaking us. If we let the confidence spiral take us all the way down, it may be impossible to even recover.

The process for shattered confidence follows these five stages:

1. Stage 1 – Top of the world! – I must be pretty good. After all, I was selected to do this job over everyone else in the world. My superior background, experience, and charming personality won the day. There is no doubt I have a great future in this job and with this company. I’ll probably be promoted (again) in a few months or couple years at the most. In a way, these guys are lucky to have me. OK, now I need to go make a positive difference with this responsibility.
2. Stage 2 – Doubts creep in – Yes, I probably could have done a better job with that project. I deserved the criticism I received. I wondered why my boss has seemed to avoid me lately. Oh, well, I can still get the job done… I think. I just need to pick myself up and get going. I think I’ll get started after lunch. No big rush. I’m OK… I’ll just keep saying that until I believe it.
3. Stage 3 – I’m not really that good – Well, I’ve done it again… I messed up. I think my boss is right, I’m not that good at this job. In fact, I’m probably over my head. I wonder why they even selected me. I’ll try to make the best of this situation, but I need to just keep my head down and try to not cause any more damage. I’m not sure I can even salvage this situation, so I’ll try to just stay out of the way.
4. Stage 4 – Actually, I’m pretty pitiful – I just need to realize and admit that I am terrible at this job! I am probably causing more harm than good at this point. I can’t seem to do anything right. No one trusts me, including myself. Why did I ever think I could do a job like this. I probably just need to step back and get a role that doesn’t require any special skills or abilities. Bottom line… I’m pitiful!
5. Stage 5 – Why do they even keep me? – I just might be the worst person in history that has ever tried to do this job! There is no way I should have any important responsibilities in this job or, frankly, in any other job. I am worthless and should think about trying a totally different career path. This company would be doing everyone a favor by just cutting me loose.

I sincerely hope that everyone reading this finds themselves in Stage 1. However, there could be a few of you starting that slide of diminished confidence. What steps can you take to either stop that slide or to restore your confidence back to Stage 1? Let’s take a look at a few suggestions:

1. Refresh your memory – Go back and review your resume. Remember why you were selected for this job. Consider again the skills, education, and ability your brought to this job. Recall what you were told when the job offer was made. Think about why you were the best choice and how you felt the day you said yes. There was a day that you were truly the best person for the role you have. Put yourself back to that day and refresh your approach.
2. List your accomplishments – Think about everything positive you have accomplished in the past. Take out a piece of paper and list your accomplishments over the past few years of your career. Really, write them down. Think about those things that moved the needle or things that made a difference in your past. When you do this, you’ll see that you do have strong capabilities. You’ll see that you have been very successful in the past and, thus, there is no reason you cannot be successful in the future. Recall those individuals that have been impacted by your efforts. Consider the difference you have made for others. Include all these on your list. You might even keep this list and add to it from time-to-time. Reviewing this list can help reset your attitude about your own abilities.
3. Seek input from trusted colleagues – Getting feedback from trusted colleagues is a gift. Having someone that can help you discern perception from reality is extremely valuable when restoring your confidence. You don’t want someone to simply “tickle your ears”, but you need the truth. Having a colleague help answer this question can be enlightening, “Are you making contributions and value?” Ask for help and ask for the truth. Then, be prepared to treat this feedback as the gift that it is.
4. Be objective – Take a step back and look at your performance and contributions from your boss’ perspective. How would you rate your own performance if your view was the only one that counted? Use the truth to push yourself back up to Stage 1.
5. Adjust your body language – As trivial as it may seem, a simple adjustment of your body language can make a difference in your confidence. By raising your head and adjusting the posture of your shoulders, you immediately get a more positive sense. Dressing more professionally can often accomplish the same. By adjusting your body language, you often adjust your attitude.
6. Learn a new skill – Whenever you find yourself slipping in confidence, it may be time to learn a new skill. When you add to your own portfolio of skills, you can upgrade your own overall confidence.
7. Teach someone else a skill – Likewise, finding someone else that you can teach or mentor can enhance your confidence. Passing it on is a great way to refresh your confidence.
8. Boldly go forward – Be bold! Have courage! Individuals often find themselves slipping into Stage 4 or 5 because they become timid. It is a vicious cycle when we become less bold concurrently with becoming less confident. Enhancing our courage and subsequent boldness is a great way to break the spiral into despair.

The most important this about confidence is realizing when it has begun to slip. If you see yourself falling into Stage 2 or 3 or below, using the steps above to break that cycle is the best way to restoring your confidence.

Have a confident, wonderful, productive day! Hold your head up and accomplish something today that you thought was impossible. Make a difference for someone else. This could be your best day yet!

I recently watched the movie Bucket List. It is an enjoyable look at how two unlikely friends spend their last few months. There is one scene in the movie in which one of the men described the ancient Egyptian belief that upon death, two questions would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife. These questions were:

1. Did you bring joy to others?
2. Did you find joy?

I think these two questions are pertinent to us today as well. Our answers to these questions can determine our attitude, our productivity, our happiness, our fulfillment, our satisfaction, and our perseverance. It can determine how we perform with our team, our relationship with our family, and whether we are a giver or taker. Our answers can mean the difference between a life with purpose and one without. So, let’s explore each of these a bit more today.

• Did you bring joy to others?    Our purpose (in a family, on a team, or anywhere else) simply cannot be to satisfy our own needs and desires. Narcissism (e.g., a complete focus on self) is one of the most prevalent problems plaguing our society today. Living in a way that places everything and everyone below yourself on the priority list will not bring joy to others. Living intentionally to make a positive difference to others is that way to bring joy. Placing others above self means you focus on the happiness and joy of others foremost. So, what is the very best way to bring joy to someone else? I think the answer is simply to give yourself to others. By giving time to others, you demonstrate that you care and that you value them. By being present physically or through other means, you demonstrate that you are willing to give perhaps your most important possession (that is, TIME) to that person. By giving of yourself to benefit another, you most assuredly bring joy to that person. So, the real question is, “Did you give yourself to others in a way that demonstrated that you care for them; that you value them; that you love them?” This question is pertinent in a family, as a leader, as a friend, as a coworker, as a neighbor, and, simply, as a human being that cares for others.

 

• Did you find joy?    And, perhaps just as importantly, are we living in a way that brings joy to our own lives? Personally, I believe that joy is not a single event or collection of events, but a base level present in all of us. It is like a cup of terrific coffee. Some have a full cup, while others have only a bit in the bottom of the cup. Then, we might add flavorings, sugar, etc. to perk even that up. Our joy is how much of that terrific coffee we have in our cup. Those other highlights in our life are like the extras we add. So, the question is whether we have a cup that is full of joy or one that barely has a drop at the bottom of the cup. Does your life percolate with that sense of satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment, and collection of people that make you smile? It is tempting to be so caught up in the flurry of life (work, scheduled events, school, calendar, etc.) that we fail to stop and “fill our cup.” And, the other beautiful thing about our “cup of joy” is that it can be filled. Just because it may not be full today doesn’t mean that we can’t fill it up. We can add joy to our lives, but it might take some changes in our lives that allow it.

 

A person with a full cup is better equipped to bring joy to others, as well. One benefits the others. So, the challenge to you today is how would you honestly answer these two questions? At this point in your life, are you consistently bringing joy to others? And, is your cup full? If the answer to either question is “no”, then, what are you going to do about it? The next step is yours.

Have a fabulous day! And, thanks for bring joy to my life.

Today’s edition of The Porch is an update from a post from many months ago when many of you were not yet regular readers.  So, it is likely this is new for most of you.  Anyway, we look today at identifying and eliminating waste of all kinds (e.g., rigamarole).

First of all, let’s take a look at some definitions around the study of rigamarology:

1. Rigamarole = a long, complicated, and annoying process; confused or meaningless talk; a complex and sometimes ritualistic procedure (yes, this is in the dictionary, look it up!)
2. Rigamarology = the study or dedication to rigamarole
3. Rigamarotocol = documented set of meaningless activities or non-value added steps

Growing up, I often heard my father use the term “rigamarole.”  I came to understand that this meant meaningless steps or activities.  As you see from the definitions above, rigamarole describes perfectly what we attempt to eliminate when we pursue continuous improvement, whether at work or in our lives.  A key element of continuous improvement is to identify and eliminate waste in all its forms.  We also attempt to simplify existing steps and activities that no longer add value.

So, why do we put up with rigamarole in our lives?  It could be that it is easier to continue doing what is wrong than taking the effort to make it right.  Or, it could be that we just have not stopped to intentionally consider how things could be better.  Or, it could be that we actually invented the rigamarole that plagues us.  For whatever reason, why continue allowing our lives to be complexified (yes, another new word for today) for no good reason or for no added value?

My challenge to you is this….

Begin asking yourself these questions, “What value is being added by this step or activity or report or meeting?  How will the company or my life be better as a result of this?  Would our customers or patients pay extra for this?”  When you catch yourself asking these questions and providing an honest answer, you will be amazed at how many non-value added activities (e.g., rigamarole) you encounter in a day.   A key element of our future success as individuals or an organization is helping to drive out these non-value added activities.  We must help our organization avoid a dedication to rigamarole and eliminate clutter in our lives.

If you could eliminate one item of rigamarole today, what would it be?  Now, put your thoughts to action and go do it!  Have a great day!

Today, I am starting a mini-series of items titled, “What would I do if…” Hopefully, a number of pertinent issues will be covered through this series. We will cover topics that I have personally experienced during my approximately 40 years working in a variety of companies and situations. We look at an all-too-common concern today around a “micro-manager” boss. How do you deal with a boss that must be involved in every detail of your worklife?

What are the characteristics of a micro-manager?  I can list several:

• They want to know much more than necessary about your work, your job, or things you have responsibility to complete
• They make you feel guilty when you haven’t involved them or informed them for even minor items
• They have a fear of not being the first to know something
• They are almost paranoid about appearing to be in control
• They universally lack self-confidence and feel constantly that their job is in jeopardy if they don’t know everything
• They have difficulty being strategic, so they default into the details of YOUR job
• They make a competent person miserable, and, finally,
• They can’t stop micro-managing!

I’m sure most of us could think of a few other characteristics of micro-managers. But, I think the key point above is that if you think your micro-manager boss might change or loosen up as they become more comfortable with you, forget it! Being a micro-manager is part of their DNA. Once a micro-manager, always a micro-manager. So, the conversation must shift to, “How can I manage my micro-manager?”

In my years, I have had several micro-managers. Before I learned that I could not change them, I struggled and worked diligently to please them… to no avail. So, let me provide my best advice:

1. Be realistic about your own abilities/performance – Let’s be honest, some people must be micro-managed simply because they are incapable of doing their basic job adequately. As a manager of people myself, there are times when you must exert more oversight for one person than another just to get the work done. So, before you feel that your micro-manager boss is completely out-of-line in how they treat you, conduct an honest self-assessment of your own abilities and performance to determine if you MUST be micro-managed to get the job done. If this is the case, pick yourself up by the boot straps and begin doing the work you need to do at the level required. However, because true self-assessments are difficult to do, almost every person with a micro-manager believes it is not their fault. Ask someone you trust if they believe the problem could be with your own performance.
2. Over-communicate – Probably, the best and most effective approach I ever used to deal with a micro-manager boss was to intentionally over-communicate. By this, I don’t mean to call or ask my boss for every decision. That just enhances the problem. By over-communicating, I mean to provide a weekly summary of all key activities that I have been involved in and provide that summary unsolicited to my boss. I included all the details my boss might typically request plus other activities. This weekly communication would often disarm my boss and circumvent the need for him/her to continually monitor my activities and ask about things unnecessarily. In essence, I attempted to proactively provide any piece of information he/she might need which tended to allow the boss to spend more time monitoring the work of others. Give it a try!
3. Remain calm, don’t panic – Do not do anything rash if you find yourself being micro-managed. Stay calm. Don’t overreact or say something that could make matters worse. Carefully put yourself in the boss’s shoes and consider why he/she might be treating you the way they do. Is there a reason? If not, take some time to consider your feelings and approach before striking back or becoming overly frustrated.
4. Don’t allow your frustration to infect others – By all means, do not allow your own frustration to pour over to other colleagues. Voicing your frustration openly will do more harm than good. It is fine to collaborate with colleagues to determine an approach, but keep the discussion professional and civil.
5. Don’t allow him/her to create a micro-manager out of you – There is a tendency to allow a micro-manager boss to turn you into a micro-manager. For example, the boss’s overwhelming need to know everything that is occurring might force you into hovering over your own subordinates. Don’t do it! Find a way to have basic information at hand, but be extremely careful about becoming a micro-manager simply to feed your own.
6. Remain confident in your own abilities – Don’t let a micro-manager rob you of your own self-confidence. You are the best at what you do, so don’t forget that.
7. Don’t compromise how you treat others to satisfy your boss – Despite everything else, don’t allow a micro-manager to influence you to treat others poorly. There is never an excuse to treat others unkindly. So, draw that line in the sand and don’t cross it.
8. Be reasonable about when you need to force a change – There could be a time when your only solution in dealing with a micro-manager boss is to make a change. Don’t do that rashly, but in a considered, rational manner. Think about all alternatives and, ultimately, you need to be able to ask the question, “Will I be better off a year from now staying in this situation or making a change?” That question will often lead you to the right answer.

I truly hope that no one reading this is burdened with a micro-manager boss. But, if you do, I hope this helps. Have a wonderful day and keep thriving!

A friend and colleague recently shared a quote she ran across:

“I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.” – James Baldwin

This quote should haunt every one of us. If we believe this, we must conclude that our integrity… our character… our credibility has little or nothing to do with what we say, but is everything about what we do. Let’s look at a few examples that strike me:

• It matters more with how you treat your spouse than what you say — Doing the little things, day-after-day means more than a good word, here and there. Things you actually are more meaningful than things you promise to do. Talking about your love for your spouse is good, but showing it demonstrates you really mean it. When it comes to your love for your spouse, actions speak infinitely louder than words.
• Being a friend means doing more than you may ever get credit for doing — A true friend doesn’t expect or even want payback. Doing what a friend needs, simply because they are your friend matters infinitely more than claiming you are a friend, but not showing it. A true friend calls when a call is needed; provides a hand when it isn’t expected; and lends an ear when things get desperate.
• How you treat others matters — I’m sure you’ve seen the quote, “I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect that I treat the CEO.” In my view, the level of kindness you show to strangers is the best measure of your integrity. You can say all day long that you care for others, but the kindness that others experience at your hand demonstrates your true heart.
• Living the right way leaves an indelible mark on those around you — It is true that your kids learn more about life from watching you than by listening to you. This is also true for leadership… it is much more about what you do than what you say. You have seen this quote here before, “Pardon me, but your actions are speaking so loudly that I can’t hear your words.” A life lived right matters.

This leads me to Henson’s Corollary to the Baldwin quote above:

“I believe what you say simply because I see what you do.”

Today might be a good day to consider how well your actions match your words. Have a truly splendid day! Thanks for all you do to make this a better world.

It is getting to be that time of year when thoughts turn to the holidays. One of the all-time favorite of these Christmas season movies is It’s a Wonderful Life (directed by Frank Capra in 1946). I also enjoy that movie and probably watch it at least once each year. If you have never watched it, it is a story of George Bailey, who is shown just before his suicide through his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, the positive change he made in the lives of others. In the end, he sees that the entire town is indebted to him. The moral of the story is that you never know what you do that will make a difference for someone else. Many times, that difference is brought about, not for the great things you do, but for the little kindnesses you show each day.

So, as you mentally begin readying yourself for the Christmas season, let’s look at a few quotes from the movie and see how the words of this beloved program can apply, as well, to us today:

1. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – Clarence Odbody — Just imagine, the things you do today may be impacting someone else for the rest of their life. Just because you feel that you’re not making a difference doesn’t mean it isn’t so. Never underestimate what impact a simple kindness might have on someone else.
2. “Ah, youth is wasted on the young.” – Man on porch — I think the man was saying that we must not let age take away the sparkle from our eyes; the dance in our feet; the hand we can give someone else; and the arms we have to hold someone dear to us.
3. “Remember, George, no man’s life is a failure who has friends.” – Clarence Odbody — How sad it is for a life lived without friends. If having friends is the mark of a successful life, then my life has been wildly successful, beyond words and beyond measure!

I’m reminded of one more quote today:

“Your truest friends are the ones who will stand by you in your darkest moments – because they’re willing to brave the shadows with you – and in your greatest moments – because they’re not afraid to let you shine.” – Nicole Yatsonsky

Consider for today the impact you are making on others and how many others your life touches. And, today would be a good day to celebrate your “life success” by thanking your truest friends. Have a great day!

I often wonder why it is that some individuals seemingly have no sense of gratitude or thankfulness for what they have or what others have done for them. I used to think that being thankful should just come naturally… just being aware of how you’ve been blessed. But, I ran across a quote recently that might tell a different story:

“The discipline of gratitude is explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.” – Henri Nouwen

Nouwen’s thoughts indicate that gratitude is a direct effort, an intentional act. I think I agree with him. I have seven grandchildren. And, being around small children has made me see that gratitude is not a natural human attribute. It has to be taught. Children learn to be thankful because their parents compel them to be thankful; because their parents teach them that they have been blessed; and because their parents teach them to express their thankfulness. Eventually, these children grow up to be adults that more freely and willingness acknowledge and express their gratitude. In other words, they develop the discipline of gratitude through the influence of their parents and, hopefully, their grandparents. AND, they live out this gratitude by what they do and how they treat others. They learn to serve others because they see their blessings as a gift… a gift to be celebrated.

We have been gifted with much. Most of us have good jobs that make our lifestyle possible. Most of us have wonderful families. Most of us have many comforts that make life enjoyable. Most of us have friends that care for us. Most of us have abilities, skills, and hobbies that make us productive and happy. Most of us have a bright future. Most of us have good health. Sure, we all have challenges, worries, and difficulties. However, I think we would all say, if we were honest, we have much more to be thankful for than concerned about. Today would be a good day to consider those blessings and, if we don’t already have it, begin developing that attitude of gratitude… that discipline of gratitude… spoken of by Nouwen.

I am thankful for you… my coworkers and colleagues. You are a big part of my life and my life is blessed because of you. Thanks for what you do to “gift” my life.

Finally, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it would be good to quote a post I recently saw on Facebook:

“I was just sitting here thinking how wonderful it would be to revisit one of the Thankgivings I remember as a kid… Grandma and Grandpa’s house filled with all our family, the best food on earth, and not a worry in the world. If I could go back, I promise you I would cherish every single second.” – Anonymous

Have a terrific day! There is a great chance that this could be our best day yet. Don’t miss it!  And, have your best Thanksgiving yet!

How often do you approach a problem or situation with the comment, “OK, so what is the worst that could happen?” We tend to feel that by looking at the worst case downside of a situation, it can help us better assess the risks that the situation poses. By looking at the negative, we create a larger risk-tolerance zone. However, by doing so, how many “positives” do we miss? When we completely leave out the positive side of the equation, we unfairly skew every decision toward avoiding the negative instead of seeing the potential positives.

You probably remember the song, “The Greatest” sang many years ago by Kenny Rogers. We may have even looked at it here previously. However, this short song speaks perfectly to the point for today. Let’s look at this lyrics to this song:

 

The Greatest

(sung by Kenny Rogers; Songwriters: Donald Alan Schlitz)

 

Little Boy, in a baseball hat

Stands in the field with his ball and bat

Says I am the greatest player of them all

Puts his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up his ball

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down

Swings his bat all the way around

The world’s so still you can hear the sound

The baseball falls to the ground

 

Now the little boy doesn’t say a word

Picks up his ball, he is undeterred

Says I am the greatest there has ever been

And he grits his teeth and he tries it again

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down

Swings his bat all the way around

The world’s so still you can hear the sound

The baseball falls to the ground

 

He makes no excuses, He shows no fears

He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers

 

Little boy, in a baseball hat

Picks up his ball, stares at his bat

Says I am the greatest the game is on the line

And he gives his all one last time

And the ball goes up like the moon so bright

Swings his bat with all his might

And the world’s so still as still can be

And the baseball falls, and that’s strike three

 

Now it’s supper time and his mama calls

Little boy starts home with his bat and ball

Says I am the greatest that is a fact

But even I didn’t know I could pitch like that

He says I am the greatest that is understood

But even I didn’t know I could pitch that good. 

 

The boy in the song doesn’t dwell on the negative… the fact he missed hitting the ball three straight times. His focus is on his pitching. Instead of looking at the “worst case,” he looks at the positive. So, for us, why not begin looking at “What is the best that could happen?” Why not focus on the positive benefits that we could experience rather than the negative risks posed? In my own life, I can give many examples of times when, had I focused on the “worst case scenario,” I would have chosen to avoid risks or avoid decisions or avoid doing some things. Instead, I have been blessed beyond words for the risks I have taken in my life. Instead of choosing to avoid risks, I chose to look at the positive and be the best pitcher I could possibly be.

So, for today, try to shift your thinking from considering the worst-case you might face to the best-case. What might happen IF I actually make the other choice? You also might look back someday and say you were blessed beyond words because of that decision or risk you decided to take. Or, you might see something positive that you never would have seen otherwise. Give it a try.

Have a great and fabulous day! It might even be a best day, if we allow it. In case you’ve never seen The Greatest video music, it is a good one and is at the link below. Have a good one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqRjbeSuHi8

My wife and I attended a concert recently. No, it was not Lawrence Welk or anyone from that era, though it was someone popular in the past. Collin Raye was a very popular singer with cross-over appeal in the 90’s and early years of this century. He had four platinum albums and four number one songs during his prime years. Those years have been gone for around 15 years now. Yet, he still tours with over 150 concert dates this year. His concert was in a small venue in Benton, IL. The crowd was around 800 people, far short of the 10 – 20,000 he might have performed before during his prime years. Nonetheless, his concert was great – energetic, well done, and his more famous songs performed masterfully. His band was terrific and we had a very nice time. What impressed me about Raye was that – despite the years since his last number one song, despite the small crowd, despite the venue – he was still performing at a high level. His performance was excellent – just as it might have been during his more popular day. He performance was an example of sustained excellence… the kind that a person of character might give. For Collin Raye, maybe the crowds are smaller and maybe he is not as popular as he once was, but his best days are not in the past. In my opinion, both his ability and his character were on display during this concert.

I think we all have a tendency to think that our best days are behind us. We tend to look back to the good old days and the magic they held for us. These days, I often have to remind my wife, “You should have seen me in my prime!” Her response is usually, “I did.” Despite how good our prime might have been, our best days are ahead of us — IF WE CHOOSE! Certainly, we can choose to ride out the remainder of our days or years without the drive to make a difference. We can sit back and rest on our laurels. However, a person with character keeps striving, keeps dreaming, and keeps on making a difference for others. Your career hasn’t stalled unless you allow it! Your life isn’t over until your last breath! Your influence has not ceased! Others still count on you!

I think the point I learned from Collin Raye is that we can look back and say our best days are behind us. But, a person with character will finish strong. I am not just speaking with individuals that are late in their career or life. This applies to a 25-year old as much as an 85-year old. A person with character will not let those around them down and will re-double efforts to make a difference… to keep striving… to keep leading… to keep pushing… to keep caring.

It is good to look back on those fond memories in the past, but don’t stay there! Have a fabulous day!

(For those of you that do not know Collin Raye, here is a link to one of his top songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycze0tiMAPw )

 

I remember the movie from a few years ago, “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” It was a fun movie where the father of the family accidently used his newly invented shrinking machine to shrink his kids. Anyway, it seems that the career pyramid seems to be shrinking in a similar way. As companies consolidate, merge, downsize, and transform, the number of higher-level positions seems to be decreasing. I know of a department in one firm that had 12 positions at the Director or above level in one area two years ago, but only six today. So, that is a perfect example of what is occurring broadly — the positions we felt we might attain as our career progresses have disappeared.

So, how do we thrive in the face of the incredible shrinking career pyramid? Are we destined to simply realize that career opportunities have diminished? Is there something we can do proactively to actually thrive in this environment? I believe the answer to this last question is, “Yes, we can do something about it.” Here are my thoughts and advice:

1. No whining – The absolute worst thing you can do when frustrated by decreasing opportunities is to whine about it. Stop complaining. In these challenging times, feeling hopeless and helpless can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is a time to become a warrior, not a worrier. Take action and go on the offense. Avoid negative talk, rumor-mongering, and a depressive attitude. This can simply destroy any of those diminishing opportunities that might have been possible.
2. View the shrinking pyramid as an opportunity – Many years ago, my entire division at the company where I worked was eliminated in one day. Suddenly, I was without a job. I had a new house with a mortgage, a small child with another on the way, and no tools to help me find another job. However, in the end, my next job is what put me in the healthcare industry – the very best in the world. That terrible, horrible day became the springboard to things much greater for my career. This reminds me of a great quote: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” (George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans).  Look at the shrinking pyramid as a time to consider learning new skills, experiencing new challenges, etc. It may not be the end, but a new beginning.
3. Re-double your networking efforts – I cannot emphasize enough the importance of networking. During the shrinking pyramid period, you must do that even more! Re-acquaint yourself with old colleagues, recent acquaintances, etc. Ask a colleague to introduce you to someone they know. Make it a goal to connect with someone from your past and someone new once each week. That will force you to see new opportunities.
4. Invent your own position – These times might be good ones to break your old paradigms and create new ones. Perhaps, the future organization will be totally different than it is today. What activities tend to be trending in importance? What new needs have arisen? Where do you see a future need? What should you get ahead of now. I personally know of a dozen or more individuals that migrated to positions that previously didn’t even exist. Find that opportunity, demonstrate its value, and make a pitch.
5. Enhance your “serve” – There may be a tendency during times of shrinking opportunities to become self-focused. That is wrong. Yes, you need to consider your own plight, but I believe this is also a time to enhance your service to others. You are not the only person experiencing the shrinking pyramid. Others need your presence, your advice, your help. You might also learn that when you serve others, your own frustration and short-term view becomes alleviated. Do something for someone else and see how it impacts your attitude.
6. Increase your responsibilities – A shrinking pyramid might also be a time to seek ways to increase your own responsibilities. As consolidation occurs, there might be functions left uncovered. This is a time to ask for a chance to demonstrate your abilities by taking on more. It shows your value plus it gives you a chance to learn something new.
7. Expand your horizon – We all often have a very narrow view of our abilities, career, or purpose. This is a time to expand it. Be creative in what you can do or what value you can add. For example, read the actual job description on open positions posted. Think about how you would position yourself for positions outside your normal function. What skills can you bring? You may have never been in a Project Manager position, but you have managed projects successfully. You may have never supervised people directly, but you have managed the activities of teams of individuals. Stop limiting yourself!
8. Never stop adding value – Finally, now is not the time to slow down. In most cases, opportunities in these difficult times are offered to individuals with a proven ability to add value… the demonstrated ability to make a difference. There will always be an opportunity in companies for individuals that get things done consistently.

 

Bottom line… When things get difficult, those that persevere are those that win. Now is not a time to shrink along with the shrinking pyramid. Take action, get involved, and manage your own career destiny.

Have a fabulous day! We each have within us the ability to make a difference. Find your place to do it today.