I was fired once. At the time everyone around me were a lot more worried and shocked than I was. It wasn’t the right fit. It actually pathed the way to what I am doing and why we love working in career transition and coaching to help others navigate a pretty shitty time and be courageous.
In a volatile business world, some of us may have either experienced receiving a surprise redundancy package or, worse still, being fired! If you were completely honest about how you felt, I am sure it would highlight some interesting emotions and responses. In some cases with being fired it may not have been justified and appropriate action had to be taken, however the important thing is, how did you respond to the situation? You may have had a brief moment where your mind took you back to the movie “Courage under Fire” and you felt like stepping into the role of Matt Damon to sort this out! While this is one way, the right answer is to display “Courage under being fired.” Leadership is about courage and although in retrospect, moving on from that job may have been beneficial, what is more important is how you addressed the situation at the time!
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ Eleanor Roosevelt
Notice the Warning Signs
Aine Cain covers “19 signs you’re about to lose your job” in her article. Sometimes, you’ll see that you’re getting fired or laid off from a mile away. Other times, unfortunately, it will take you by surprise. In order to avoid getting caught unawares, keep in mind the signs that your job is at risk. Everything from bad performance reviews to recent mergers can prove to be warning signs. Losing your job is almost always a miserable experience. But, in some cases, there are signs that you’re about to get fired. You’ve just got to know where to look. Maybe your boss is out to get you. Maybe you’ve been embroiled in some recent controversy at work. Or maybe your organisation is undergoing a massive transition or merger. Either way, it helps to be prepared.
An opportunity to Reflect, Change and Improve?
Molly Owens, CEO knows “How to Bounce Back Gracefully After Getting Fired.” Whether you saw it coming or not, getting fired is a real shock and its impact is daunting. What did you do wrong? What are you supposed to do next? When will you stop feeling so angry? But there are ways to deal with a layoff. The most important thing is to remain calm and see it as an opportunity to reflect, change and improve. This is a great time to consider what happened, look again at your needs and desires and start afresh on a stronger, more constructive basis. Let’s take a look at how you can bounce back gracefully after getting fired:
- Deal with the Shock of Getting Fired
- Stay Away from the Drama Queens
- Take a Break and Let the Dust Settle
- Be Anchored in the Present
- Understand the “Why”
- Find out If You Were the Right Fit
- Rediscover Your Strengths and Talents
Bouncing forward
My blog “12 Rules of Courage” highlights the fact that we lead today in a world where there is much uncertainty, no reliable blueprint and an unrecognisable landscape. Being fired fits this category! Within this landscape and uncertainty there is one thing that stands out more today than ever before in our leaders – courage. Courageous leaders deal with setbacks and are ultimately the ones who can lead through this landscape of uncertainty with adaptability and resilience. Leading with courage through today’s distorted playing field creates sustainable value and outcomes across all areas of your organisation. Here are my 12 Rules of Courage that will assist you in dealing with setbacks:
- Speak The Truth, No Matter How Difficult It May Be
- Know Your Values – And Stick To Them
- Be Unapologetically You
- Never Let Fear Stop You From Achieving Your Goals
- Be Brave Enough To Stop And Listen
- Never Accept Defeat
- Do What Scares You
- Learn To Silence Your Inner Critic
- Love Yourself Because Of Your Flaws, Not In Spite Of Them
- Be the Bigger Person In All Interactions
- Be Open To New Ideas, Thoughts And Experiences
- Don’t Be Afraid To Fail
Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes we need help. I am always here.
Get in touch today to learn more about our career transition and coaching to move forward and set yourself up for success!
Stay Kind. Stay Courageous.
Sonia x
