Headlines, news anchors, talk shows, friends, family, and even strangers talk about the troubles in today’s economy.
Whether it’s the loss of a home or the slow decline in investment accounts, everyone is talking about the effects this economy is having on their lives.
In recent days, the hottest topic of discussion regarding our late-breaking economy has been more about jobs, layoffs in particular.
The US unemployment rate has reached an all-time high of 8.1%, according to the US Department of Labor.With so many people losing their jobs, those who have one are grateful that they can still pay their bills, keep food on their tables. and have a roof over their heads.
Rapidly increasing layoffs and job uncertainties leave employees wondering what they can do to keep their jobs and avoid the jobless lines; what they can do to stand out from the rest; and what they can do to make themselves indispensable.
Many experts have said that now is the time for employees to take stock of their skills, invest in improving their skills, and begin to seriously use their skills to become indispensable.
With that in mind, to survive and thrive in this current work environment, today’s employees must focus on developing the three significant characteristics of efficiency, competence, and self-reliance to become a more valuable asset, not just for their companies, but for their companies. families and themselves too.
Let’s look at the first characteristic of efficiency. Efficient employees are those who are productive without waste. They can work smartly by producing desired results without wasting their vital resources of time and energy.
When you operate as an efficient employee, you can push yourself into your work day, whether you work 8, 9, or 12 hours, and get a lot done with few mistakes. Since you understand that mistakes can cost time and money, as well as hampering a positive working relationship with clients and clients, you, as an efficient employee, will focus on mastering organizational and time management skills to increase your ability to produce steadily without waste.
The next characteristic that today’s employees must develop is competence. A competent employee is an employee who has a great deal of knowledge and experience in a trade or profession.
In today’s economic climate, not only are more and more people losing their jobs, but there also seem to be more and more people doing work that they don’t know much about how to do.
Have you had the experience of interacting with someone about an aspect of your job that you thought you would know about but didn’t know much about? Maybe they transferred you to someone else, or maybe they told you outright that they didn’t know anything you were asking, or possibly they gave you some information only to find out later that the information was totally wrong and not helpful. you with what you needed help to fix or solve.
Employees who don’t know their job well can’t do their job well. That is why it is important that you learn all aspects of your job and learn it correctly. The more you know, the further you will go. The success of your work will depend on the knowledge and skills you possess. So, take classes, enroll in certificate programs, study material on your own, and work with a mentor to help you position yourself as a competent employee.
The last characteristic that today’s employees must develop is the self-reliance characteristic. With all the uncertainty employees face regarding the stability of their jobs, the self-reliance feature can serve them well.
Self-sufficient employees can support themselves without outside help. Of course, in the workplace, teamwork, which requires the assistance of others, is essential to bonding with coworkers, completing projects successfully, and achieving company goals. However, operating as a self-sufficient employee will allow you to demonstrate extreme confidence in your own ability and worth.
This means that you will operate as an entrepreneur doing work that you are proud of. Plus, you’ll work with minimal instructions from the boss, doing what you know needs to be done, rather than waiting to be told what to do. In addition, you will understand that it is not an island and you will know the resources that can help you do a job well done and use them to get help.
Valuing your efforts, using your resources, remembering your goals, harnessing your talents, and using your skills will help you operate as a self-reliant employee in the workplace.
And, in the unfortunate event that you face the unemployment line, your ability to meet your own needs will help you establish a career where you can rely on your own ability to earn a living and survive this job downturn.
With constant reminders that these are not easy economic times we live in, focusing on the positives of employment can seem like a daunting task. However, if you work to strengthen the characteristics of efficiency, competence and self-sufficiency, you will position yourself to survive this – and any future – employment crisis.