How To Keep Your Job Without Resorting To Blackmail

Ninety percent of our eligible workforce remains employed even though we are currently experiencing the worst unemployment rate in 26 years. Stress levels are high during this time of economic uncertainty--and not just for those who are laid off. Unfortunately psychological stress can sometimes lead to negative behavior. A study conducted by Adecco this year indicates that employees are willing to go the extra mile to do what it takes to stay in their jobs at this time. However, "the extra mile" in this case actually includes things like blackmail. The study shows that 28 percent of individuals are willing to blame co-workers for mistakes, blackmail, and even flirt with superiors.

This statistic inspired me to share strategies to help you stay employed without engaging in indecent proposals. These suggestions are particularly appropriate for those with career lives in the corporate arena.

1. Be the solution
Your company is looking to you as an employee to help solve problems even when times are great. In the current economic climate one way to help yourself go beyond the call of duty is to uncover and solve a particularly challenging problem or situation, particularly if it could help save your company money. Of course, the way to showcase yourself will be to identify an issue that will call on you to execute the skills you want most to shine. Creating a win-win situation like this helps to position you as indispensable. One cautionary note: In engaging in this strategy you do want to ensure that you are not going to step on anyone's toes in the process.

2. Record Peak Accomplishments
It is in your best interest to record you peak accomplishments regardless of the economy or stress that companies face. However, in our current economic climate it is even more important to keep diligent track of how your contributions affect the company's bottom line. In one of my Lessons From My Recruiting Desk articles I outlined these examples:

Marketing: How can you quantify leads that got generated through marketing campaigns you executed? How can you quantify money you saved or helped generate based on your marketing analysis.

Product Development: What kind of revenue was generated by new product launches?

Project Management: How can you quantify in a dollar amount time you saved on a project?

Administrative: Perhaps you supported a boss who was a key player in the sales department and can illustrate how you provided the expertise to help a system run more efficiently, which saved your boss more time to go out and close additional sales.

3. Go the Extra Mile
Accepting additional tasks or lending a hand to departments in need shows your initiative and desire for more responsibility. I recently had a client whose star employee needed to be borrowed by a department that was short staffed. This allowed the employee to showcase herself, which resulted in a promotion into the department where she was "borrowed." My client was not thrilled about losing his star employee but she enthusiastically supported her promotion.

4. Ensure that they know you.
Depending on the size of your company there is a good chance that you don't often cross paths with the "C" level executives. Let's face it, only a few of us get to spend any significant time on THEIR floor. As a result some of these executives don't know who you are. However, during tough times it helps if they do. Therefore, I encourage you to ensure that you are networking internally. If your company has "optional" meetings, receptions, lectures, etc, attend them. If the opportunity arises introduce yourself or send an e-mail following a lecture to thank the executive who conducted it. Some of you out there see these acts as "kissing up." I encourage you to choose to look at it as expanding your connections. Even if a pink slip lands on your desk these are the kinds of network connections that may be able to help you move forward in your career.

5. Avoid being managed
Feedback is a natural part of working relationships and management. However, a less than "enlightened" manager may use it as a deciding factor in a lay-off. It is possible that the employee who has to be managed less will be looked at as a greater asset to a company during tough times. Ensure that your boss trusts that when tasks/projects are assigned you will be fully engaged from execution to completion.

It has often been said that our greatest challenges can bring our greatest opportunities for growth. However, leveraging any challenge for growth requires integrity and self-management. Self management includes engaging in the strategies outlined here along with general stress management exercises including regular exercising, meditating, and refraining from gossip . These can all go a long way in ensuring that you remain calm and successful in your current position and avoid relegating to some of the less than desirable behaviors that have been illustrated during these uncertain times.

*** As a Conscious Career Coach Jason helps you design, transition and manage your career from the "inside-out," leading to a life of greater success,inspiration, fulfillment, prosperity, and contribution. Simply put, Jason's coaching puts the "you" back in "your" career. Learn more at www.jmannino.com and request a free copy of Jason's career coaching e-book: Swinging Through the Unemployment Jungle by e-mailing [e-mail]

Comments

[Pippen]

08:45 AM on 08/04/2009

1. Be The Solution - The Solution is they can gleen a higher bonus with your departure.
2. Record Accomplish­ments - routine, nobody will ask for them and even less review them.
3. Go the Extra Mile - for 20+ years then get voted off the island regardless of the toil you've put in and missing family events, vacations, sitting in traffic getting a health problem. They dont care what you've done for them they only care what you've done for them TODAY. Literally TODAY.
4. Ensure they Know You - The only good advice in the post. Because it's about who you know and who you're willing go down on. Because if you dont get to your knees or bend over figurative­ly or for real your gone. They have the power and there's nothing you can do about it unless....­.And let me tell you THE LINE IS LONG ON THIS ONE.
5. Dont Be Managed - If they think your too independen­t and you wont let them puppet you your gone. Your a threat and a challenge. You'll get voted off the island.

Corporate America is a cess pool of immorality and academic theatre. It's not about "The People" it's about the "Profit" margin. The less people the higher the profit margin for those who own and operate. Dance and sing all you want, they'll be amused while they flush you after 20 years of loyality.

My advice - GET A LAWYER NOW and build a case.

[jumperpin]

01:40 PM on 08/01/2009

Competence­? accomplish­ment? initiative­? courage?

Sorry, none of these attributes fit the "safe profile" of today's employee?

How many times have we had to break THEIR rules to save THEIR post-indus­trial asses?

[Kari Henley]

07:39 AM on 08/01/2009

HI Jason
I think you raise some very important points in your post. Ultimately­, life is about making choices and being personally responsibl­e. Choosing to engage in illegal or negative behaviors never brings anyone to higher goals.

It is easy to get caught up in the finger pointing and perpetuati­ng the 'problem' instead of being part of the solution.
Great job!
Thanks
Kari

[Jason Mannino]

12:16 PM on 08/01/2009

It's always great when you share your perspectiv­e, much appreciate­d.

Thank you!
Jason

[slowtono]

10:45 PM on 07/31/2009

Good luck on that if they don't need you your G O N E !

[humaneismyth]

03:26 PM on 08/02/2009

yuh.Call me jaded but I have had enough of the happy horse**** about what it takes to be a good employee.I think if if there were a law that mandated a hired person 5 years without the risk of being fired for whatever reasons..c­ompanies might actually stop trying so hard to get employees to quit and actually start working with employees to help them be the best employees they can be for their company.As it is now,compan­ies will throw you to the curb for any infraction­,real or imagined,i­f they so choose to..for any reason..an­d spend a lot of time and money and creativity in trying to get employees to quit.Don't tell me companies do not play favorites and will overlook one person's infraction while booting another at a moments notice.And it isn;t enough to boot employees,­they have to toy with you too.The going trend in this world is the employee is the one who must bend over backwards,­and the company has all the rights.

[cloudminder]

10:11 PM on 07/31/2009

if you work for University of California -- right now it means don't report corruption as a whistleblo­wer

'cause it looks like you don't have any rights

to read the latest on this issue and UC shenanigan­s:

http://clo­udminder.b­logspot.co­m/

or visit

http://www­.reformthe­uc.com/

[mollypot]

06:32 PM on 07/31/2009

Employees are being abused. They are now forced to do the work of three and four people without any raises and plenty of veiled threats. I know a few people who are glad they got laid off, simply because the mental stress of remaining was so debilitati­ng that it made getting out of the bed in the morning a victory. It's bad out here people. But a word to all those people who are using this crisis to make others miserable; you reap what you sow in the end.

[BillOfRights]

05:03 PM on 07/31/2009

I believe that tips one and five are spot on.

I'm a boss, and I've had to decide who to lay off several times over the last couple of years. It's never fun, and the decision to lay people off always comes from up above my level, I'm just given a headcount objective.

The people I lay off are the ones that just aren't performing as well as the others - it's as simple as that. The best way to keep your job (at least if you work for me) is to add value. Be better every day. Help achieve the group's/co­mpany's objectives­. Be a team player. Not sure if this applies to all environmen­ts - some of the comments are rather scary - and I'm glad I don't work in a company like some of those mentioned above.

[humaneismyth]

03:30 PM on 08/02/2009

I want to believe there are "bosses" who are fair but unfortunat­ely in the end,"bosse­s" do what they want.Emplo­yees are not human beings they are pawns.

[entropygal]

05:46 PM on 08/02/2009

I don't believe it either. Supervisor­s often do not know who is doing the most work. If you are busy doing the work, you don't have the time to show it to everyone. There is plenty of backstabbi­ng gong on.

[MissElaineous]

04:53 PM on 07/31/2009

There's nothing feelgood or uplifting about most jobs. Some, yes, but most, no. People act like the primates they are at work. The way to stay employed is to never threaten or disagree with the boss,, go over the boss' head, or undermine the boss. Always make your boss look good. Don't believe me,? Read William Larreu's book, "Conduct Expected". Someone will disagree and post about being the solution and not the problem and then use words like "leadershi­p" and "initiativ­e". Hope it works for you. I stay out of trouble. As a result, I have been out of work for 7 weeks in the past 31 years. One layoff in the whole 24 years I've been in high tech. That layoff was because I expressed opinions to the boss and her boss.

Show up daily. I've worked in ghost towns because everyone telecommut­es. I show up at the same time daily and stay for 9 or 10 hours. People can find me. I answer email in less than an hour and pick up the phone promptly. Visibility makes you likeable. Remember "The Stockholm Syndrome". If you are around people a lot, they tend to regard you as one of their tribe. I've been in many layoff situations where I stayed and The Invisible Man got laid off. Maybe the IM was a better worker in some regards, but no one had an emotional investment in the IM or just was unable to find that worker when needed.

[Jason Mannino]

08:12 PM on 07/31/2009

As much as I am not thrilled with this truth, I do agree with you. In my corp. experience I have noticed that disagreeme­nt, even if you're right does not always fare well....

Thank you for sharing

[XCITIZEN]

04:43 PM on 07/31/2009

My co-worker at a non-profit also works for a major corporatio­n - she hasn't lost her job, but everyone else in her office has. SHE IS NOW DOING THE WORK OF 4 PEOPLE, and coming in to work at the non-profit at night.

[Dr. Judith Rich]

04:28 PM on 07/31/2009

Hey Jason,

Great advice! I agree with the comment about recording your accomplish­ments. It's a good practice, even if only for your resume next time around.

Thanks for this important post.

Lots of love
Judith

[MichloIW]

08:02 PM on 07/31/2009

Exactly, that is what is the update on my resume will contain, my list of accomplish­ments which I had already drafted a while ago. Since I was laid off yesterday (yes, before I saw this article, heh), it will come in very handy.

Cheers.

[Jason Mannino]

08:08 PM on 07/31/2009

Thanks, Judith!

It is important to acknowledg­e those accomplish­ments as Cara pointed out it's also important for the practice of acknowledg­ing yourself.

Hope you are having a blessed day!
Love,
Jason

[Annoula]

03:10 PM on 07/31/2009

Thanks for the advice, Jason
However, let me just say, based on my own experience­, that at layoff time NOBODY remembers your acomplishm­ents. All that matters is $.
So regarding your point 2
Record Peak Accomplish­ments
"It is in your best interest to record you peak accomplish­ments regardless of the economy or stress that companies face. However, in our current economic climate it is even more important to keep diligent track of how your contributi­ons affect the company's bottom line. "
I would add:
Make a list of your main accomlishm­ents and keep a copy at home.
While it may not save you from the ax, you will find it VERY HELPFUL when you interview for your NEXT job.

[Jason Mannino]

08:07 PM on 07/31/2009

I do agree that sometimes being laid off is ultimately about the money, but there are times when the decision can be made based on accomplish­ment, I also agree that overall it is an effective strategy for more contexts than the one outlines in my article.

Thanks for sharing!
Jason

[stevezep]

02:05 PM on 07/31/2009

Dress for the job that you want too. It also gets you noticed. I tend to see people at my place of employment wearing jeans 2-3 times out of the week while I only wear jeans on the so called "jean day." I know it isn't much but it shows that you respect your employer. Also working over helps, showing you are dependable­, and I always try to be on top of important emails and be sure to do whatever you can to show you are an important asset to your employer. Great article btw.

[Scruffyboo2]

02:04 PM on 07/31/2009

i'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF "BLACKMAIL­" ... I CALLED IT "INTELLIGE­NCE GATHERING AND APPLICATIO­N". YOU THINK THEY DON'T DO THIS TO EMPLOYEES? ANOTHER THING ... PICK THE OLDEST EXECUTIVE IN THE COMPANY AND TAKE OUT A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY ON HIM. YOU DON'T THINK THEY DO THAT TO EMPLOYEES? THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN A LISTENING DEVICE THE IN EXECUTIVE SUITES ... I WAS ALWAYS THE UNIVITED GUEST AT THE MEETINGS. YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW THEY TALK WHEN THEY'RE ALONE ... OR THINK THEY ARE.
FINALLY, PUT A PRIVATE DICK ON THE WEAKEST LINK ... YOU'LL FIND OUT WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY THREATS AT ALL ... JUST A COUPLE OF PICTURES SENT ANONYMOUSL­Y WILL WORK WONDERS. HEY! ALL' S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR.

[Jason Mannino]

02:11 PM on 07/31/2009

Thank you for sharing.

[cubsd]

05:09 PM on 07/31/2009

Don't use all caps when posting, it's the same as shouting. If you can't learn how, don't post.

[adelphi sky]

01:07 PM on 07/31/2009

Prayer works. lol

[Jason Mannino]

01:47 PM on 07/31/2009

ha! good point actually..­.

thanks for sharing :-)

[humaneismyth]

03:34 PM on 08/02/2009

no ,it doesn't.No­thing stops you from being fired if the company never wanted to hire you to begin with.Emplo­yees have NO rights and never will and making it is a matter of having someone on your side and that is it.I am fed up with the LIES about employment and hard work.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro]

12:46 PM on 07/31/2009

Hi Jason - Great to see you on the HOME page as it is an important blog for these times

Your pointers are spot on. As a corporate consultant I find these 5 are great help and should be incorporat­ed.

Always be happy,

Ed

[Jason Mannino]

01:06 PM on 07/31/2009

Thanks Ed for your support! I am always delighted to read your work too!

Love and light!
Jason