BUSINESS
Whether you’re seeking a job or new clients
Take a look at your working environment. Is your desk organised and clear? Surrounded by images that
inspire you? Is everything within easy reach? What can you change in your working environment to
support you as you find more work?
Is your behaviour that of someone who wants more work? What are you actually doing? What can you
do to improve your success rate?
Do you have the skills and capabilities that will help you find more work or do you need to brush up with
some more training? What else will boost your confidence in your own abilities?
Do your beliefs and values support you? Or do you think that no matter what you do, you’ll never
other during this difficult period made the
get anywhere? How can you examine your beliefs and values so you aren’t doing one thing while
uncertainty easier to live with. The biggest
undermining yourself by thinking another?
relief was when the announcement was made
Your identity may have been very much tied in with your old roll or a particular client. Do you need to
as we finally had a date to work towards. If
update your self image? What kind of work will support you as you are now?
redundancy is imminent, start planning what
and where you want to be next. Hope is very
What are you working for? Think about the dreams you have for the mark you’ll make or even legacy
important in life.”
you’ll leave. How can you make a difference with the work you do? On a smaller scale, what benefits
Challenging as job loss can be, it can be
could your work bring your family, community and so on? Thinking bigger than yourself will help you
the push some people need to retrain and do
stay motivated and inspired as you find new work.
something more fulfilling or even to strike
out on their own. Kat decided to set up an
IT business, Tech Speed Solutions with a
Redundancy should be looked at as a
colleague. “With my expertise in training and
my partner’s skills in IT, we decided to give
cross roads, you have been given the
it a go. We had nothing to lose. Things seem
rare opportunity to decide whether to
impossible to do sometimes, but with a bit of
patience and support all things are achievable. turn left or right
I was surprised at how much free support there
is available out there. I used Business Link business, learn new skills or make a complete on time (or at all) or is unpleasant to work with,
for advice and free training. Speak to people career change. Redundancy is definitely not a you can decide whether you want to continue
who have already set up their businesses, and dead end. The biggest highlight so far has been the relationship or spend more time building a
learn from their experiences. Most importantly receiving positive feedback from customers. base of better clients.
believe in yourself. We see people’s confidence grow when using Don’t bury your head in the sand but avoid
“Redundancy should be looked at as a the computer, especially our more mature doom and gloom news as often as possible.
cross roads, you have been given the rare customers. They are able to use their new Focus on the things you can control rather than
opportunity to decide whether to turn left or found skills to email, surf the internet safely or worrying wildly about economic “weather”.
right. I am guilty of living within my comfort even MSN.” Be proactive. Ask yourself what you can do
zone with a regular income, sitting at me desk If you’re worried about being made differently to get more clients / customers in
dreaming ‘if only’. It’s your chance to make redundant from your current job, Jenna says, this tougher market? How can you adapt your
it happen whether it is to set up your own “Stay focused and remain resilient, but also products and services to give people what they
be prepared. That means having an up to want and need right now? Is your customer
date CV and being aware of your financial service excellent? In a buyer’s market, it’s an easy
commitments should you find yourself out way for sole traders to blow their more corporate
of work. You may also find some reassurance competition away – you can respond to what
in the existence of Keep Britain Working, an your clients and customers and telling you they
initiative developed to provide practical advice need far more quickly. Make the personal touch
and ideas for employers aimed at maximising and real customer care work for you.
the number of people in work in Britain.” List all the advantages of being your own
boss and keep it near your desk as a reminder.
Running your own business? It may be that working for yourself is a
Whether you’ve been self employed for years or temporary thing and you’ll seek employment
are starting now because you’ve lost your job, in the future. Or you may find that you never
remind yourself of all the benefits. You are the want to go back.
boss of you. You control your
environment and everything
Resources
about your business. If
www.reedglobal.com www.techspeedsolutions.co.uk
further training will help you,
you can go ahead and book
www.keepbritainworking.com www.applecoaching.com
it. If a client isn’t paying you
rapport - Autumn 2009
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