Don't Be Voted off the Island...
Be the Last Survivor in Corporate Downsizing

Kerry Spivey

Read More Articles!

The tribunal council, your corporate headquarters, has spoken. There may be downsizing and considerable layoffs within your tribe. You know you make considerable contributions within your tribe, but you are uncertain how the vote will go. Are your skills those that everyone needs? Can the island survive without you? Here are some tips to ensure that you are not the first voted off the island.

Judge the Psychology of Your Tribe.

The tribe is fighting to win, in this case, profitability is the ultimate success. How do you see yourself fitting in to allow success? Is your tribe or department a strong one? You have to take all steps necessary to make sure that in a competition, you could be triumphant over a slowing economy and the continuing dissent of the NASDAQ. It is often not the fault of the employee when they are laid off. No matter how long a person has been with a company, when headquarters sends the word to downsize, the company has no other choice. It would be wise to look into the financial position of the company. Public corporations are required to submit their quarterly financials. Look at their cash and cash equivalents. If a company is operating at a profit, maybe your fears are unfounded. If the company has lost money over the last few months, proceed with caution. Be wary of the company whose financials are down from the previous year. Do they seem to have a future, or are they a fledgling dotcom struggling to be seen? Does your tribe seem cohesive and strong in the marketplace? Have they always been seen as a force to be reckoned with? Also, has their been negative press on the company, or other companies in the same field? If you hear rumors of trouble or potential downsizing, validate your concerns by looking into it. In judging a company`s potential to last, first look at their past. If the company has been on the market for a while, chances are you have nothing to worry about. A company that has years of experience in battling the uncertainties of the economy is certain to be able to survive and avoid the trend of downsizing.

Would You be the first Voted Off the Island?

When a corporation is trying to decide whom they can afford to layoff, they do not do it at random. Just like Survivor, they have to layoff those who are no longer able to offer as much to the tribe. When a company is floundering, there are certain departments that will not be needed as much to ensure the success of the company. For example, company consultants will probably be some of the first to go. They may be utilized at the onset of the company's digression, but are quickly let go when the financials see no quick signs of re-energizing profitability. The marketing department would also suffer losses in the corporation`s efforts to cut costs. When a company is no longer as successful as it has been, they do not see branding as a point of focus for the company. It is revenue, revenue, revenue! The focus will be on numbers. Any department that is not hitting their targets is subject to dismissal. The accounting department is always fairly stable. Companies need financial expertise until they close for good. The final survivors on the corporate island are almost always salespeople. Unless, a sales team is underperforming, they will usually be the last to be laid off. If there is no sales team, there is no revenue. Make sure that even if the tribe as a whole might be faltering, that you are hitting your numbers.

Form an Alliance With Your Future.

No one ever lost a battle because they were overprepared. You should never be so secure in your career that you let your resume disintegrate. Even before you begin to fear that your job is in jeopardy, revamp your resume. Take a look around the job market and see what positions seem to have the lowest percentages of layoffs. Then, see how your skills and interests can fit into these positions. Find out what skills are in high demand, and cater your resume to demonstrate how you would make a perfect for the position. See what companies are in the news for their strong position in the marketplace. Then go out and join a new tribe.

Next time you hear tribal gossip that it`s time to vote some members of the tribe off the island, make sure that you feel confident that you will survive the cut. Do your research, and master the game. Always be thinking of ways to secure your leadership position in the tribe. Next time the tribunal council speaks, you can sit back and relax because you are way ahead of the game. You are a seasoned member of the tribe, with all of the appropriate tools for survival. It is up to you to learn how to use them in the jungle if corporate downsizing.

Read More Articles