What happens if you lose a job you really loved?
There is an assumption (that I read in an article this week).
A wrong assumption (in my opinion).
That if you get made redundant it was a sign that you probably weren’t in the right job.
I think this is total bullshit.
Redundancy is nothing about you. It’s a business decision by leaders who feel like they only have that choice.
So you might’ve been in the right job.
You might’ve been enjoying it.
It might’ve been your dream job!
So now what?
The headlines that redundancy is doing you a favour, it’s a sign, it’s fate - I personally feel it dances very close to blame culture, and that is far from the truth, redundancy is not your fault.
To spend time being in the space of what you’ve done wrong, or feeling guilt or shame, won’t help you. It is a moment of loss, so many emotions will creep in but right now the more important focus is how to move forward.
And whether you hated or loved the job you are leaving, you have now got work to do.
Whatever you are leaving behind you can own the future - and there’s where you can choose to make it work for you.
So what do you do if you are leaving a job you love?
If you are being made redundant from a job you loved, here are a few things to help you work through it.
1. Ignore the cliches. They maybe come from the right place of support, but are missing the target. It is not fate, not a sign. Of course don’t ignore ‘when one door closes…’ as this is true (although as I’ve shared before this was the most annoying cliche I heard when I lost my job - see blog about Cliches)
2. Celebrate leaving. Don’t sulk. Don’t walk away without a proper goodbye. Jump on that Zoom drinks, drop people emails, say thank you for the good times. Post a great LinkedIn farewell article, tag people you loved working with.
3. Reflect on all the brilliant times you had. Think of what made it a job you loved. Spend time on this. Get a notebook and scribble it down. As well as helping you to let go, it will help you in future.
4. Here’s a strange one - but it works! - if you are really struggling, write your job a goodbye letter. I know that sounds slightly like you are losing the plot, but it works! It all comes out. There maybe tears, smiles, unexpected things come from the writing. When you are finished you can either throw it away or put it away. And feel the air lift as you say goodbye.
5. Now we can focus on the other side of the door - 3 abc steps towards your next door
5a -Remember the parts that frustrated you. The parts that could’ve been better. The parts when you wondered if there could be something else you could be doing. Write it all down too. There are also clues here to your next door.
5b -If everything could come together, and magic happened, what would your ideal tomorrow look like? What would you be doing? Why is your ideal tomorrow?
5c -Take the time now to think about not just work but all parts of your life. Have a look at where you spend your time and where you get energy and excitement from, What parts of your life would you like to improve or change? Now is the time to do it.
When you feel like you’ve said goodbye. You’ve let yourself work through the shock, you’ve worked through the grief curve, you’ve wallowed a bit. When you are ready. It’s time to upgrade. Because even though you loved your job another opportunity is on its way. And you’ll be right there to make it a great experience as well. Because it was you who made that job great. It was you who they hired. and you’ll always have you.
So roll on to the next brilliant. exciting opportunity, take all of you with you. leave nothing behind, and you will find your next fabulous door.
eleanor