Redundancy sucks - how coaching can help

Being made redundant sucks, even if you feel that it's been on the cards for a while, following whispers in corridors and seeing senior leaders holed up in meeting rooms having intense conversations. 

When it happens though, it can be a major shock to the system and can turn your life completely upside down. There are the financial implications, the loss of direction and identity, lack of routine and engagement with others. 

It can also take a physical and mental toll too, becoming the all-encompassing thought from dawn till dusk - how do I get my next role? 

Sound familiar? I'm talking from personal experience here, it's happened to me on several occasions in my career. Whilst it's never got any less painful, my reaction to being made redundant has evolved and changed. 

In the majority of cases, it's important to remember that being made redundant is not personal, it's not about you and a reflection of your capabilities, it's about things that are outside your control.

Taking back control

So if you find yourself in this position, it's all about taking control back. Take a breath and devise a clear strategy for securing your next employment. 

You need to treat the job search as a job in itself and put in place a clear plan to get to your objective of securing your next role, and one that is the right fit for you.

Going from feeling 'done', to taking back ownership and control of your destiny is empowering and puts you back in the driving seat.  As I say, I've been here before myself and found that when I made that mental switch, the road ahead looked clearer and helped me realise I could come out of it stronger.

This is where coaching can play a huge part. A coach can step back and ask the right questions of the coachee, to get under the skin of what they want and need.

In my work as a career coach, I use a three-step framework. I start with the 'platforming' phase, where I get to grips with where the job seeker is currently and what they've done to date. But also, getting a detailed understanding of their motivations, values and drivers which are key elements in deciding what role to go for next, it's not just about securing a role, it's about securing the ideal role, with the right challenge and cultural fit.

The next phase is 'transforming', turning those key elements identified into a workable action plan that they can use to guide their job search. The coach needs to be with them every step of the way, as job search is tough, so not only does the coach need to provide guidance but also motivation through the ups and downs of the process. 

Finally, the third phase is 'platforming', when the role is secured, it's about how you prepare for it properly so that you have a clear plan for day one and beyond. The aim is to take the lessons from previous roles and the job search process into the new role, avoid previous pitfalls, and also use them as positive inspiration for the challenges ahead. 

So whilst redundancy may indeed suck, I truly believe how you respond to it can be the making of you. My role as a career coach is to be the ally on the coachee's job search quest!