Actions To Take When A Storm Is Brewing - MAC119
This is one of the toughest job markets we’ve seen in a long time. Every week, it feels like another company is announcing sweeping layoffs and tightening their roster. In Episode 53, I talked through what to do if you suddenly find yourself on the wrong side of those decisions. This week, though, I want to shift the focus. Let’s talk about the moves you can make right now to put yourself in the strongest possible position to avoid being laid off. Nothing is guaranteed; no strategy is bulletproof; but the concepts we’ll cover today can help you protect your role and make yourself a far less likely target.
Layoffs are almost never a spur-of-the-moment decision. There are usually warning signs; a missed revenue target here, a sudden market shift there. Maybe the stock price starts sliding and leadership begins looking for ways to calm investors or at least keep the board from panicking. That’s when department heads get pulled into quiet rooms for closed-door conversations, budgets start tightening, projects get paused or quietly cancelled...and eventually...the layoffs and re-orgs begin.
Forewarned is forearmed. The people who seem “shocked” by layoff news are often the ones who weren’t watching the right signals; meanwhile, the people who look prepared usually saw the signs long before the announcement. It starts with truly understanding how your company makes money. What are the real drivers of revenue; which products are gaining traction; which ones are quietly struggling? What has leadership been emphasizing in earnings calls or all-hands meetings? If you want even a chance at predicting when a company might be gearing up for layoffs, you have to track the overall health of the business. Companies rarely start cutting when everything is soaring...they cut when the storm clouds have been gathering for a while.
Once you understand the health of the company, the next step is figuring out exactly where your role fits into that picture. Every job supports the business model in some way, but not every job carries the same weight when leaders start sharpening their pencils. Ask yourself a few simple questions; does my work directly generate revenue, protect revenue, or reduce cost? Is my team tied to a product or initiative that the company is actively pushing...or one that hasn’t gotten much attention lately? If you can’t clearly articulate how your role contributes to the business, that’s a sign you need to get curious fast. The people who survive reorganizations are usually the ones who can draw a straight line between their daily work and the company’s financial engine.
Once you know where your role lives in the larger business model, you can start making a more honest assessment of your personal risk. Some roles sit close to the core; others sit on the outskirts where cuts tend to land first. Maybe your team owns a product that’s losing traction...or maybe you’re in a function leadership hasn’t talked about in months. You’re not predicting the future here; you’re evaluating probabilities. And when you understand your risk profile, you can finally decide what to do next...whether that means doubling down on visibility, shifting your workload toward higher-value projects, or quietly preparing a Plan B.
So, you’ve studied the mechanics of the business and realized you’re sitting at some level of risk; what should you do next? Start by getting honest about your standing inside the company. Are you visible...or invisible? Are you known for something specific...or just seen as another pair of hands? Can your personal brand keep your name on the “safe” list when leaders start deciding who stays and who goes? Once you’ve checked your internal footing, begin warming up your network. Think of it like Gary Vaynerchuk’s jab-jab-jab-right-hook idea; your network responds best when you give-give-give before you take. If there’s even a chance you might need help later, reconnect now in a way that helps them; offer value, share something useful, make the relationship stronger before you ever ask for anything. And finally, start looking for opportunities to position yourself closer to the money. You don’t have to switch teams or chase a new project; you just need to communicate clearly how your work drives value and ties back to the core business. If you need a refresher on how to do that effectively, go back to Episode 44 on Reporting Status; it walks you through how to make sure the right people understand your impact.
Or maybe you’ve done the math and realized you’re not facing much risk...at least not this time. That doesn’t mean you get to relax. The simple fact that layoffs are happening should be a wake-up call; today’s stability doesn’t guarantee tomorrow’s safety. Your current project will eventually wrap, and you won't be able to leverage it for continued safety. Use your awareness of the broader market to position your next project closer to the core business. Look for skill gaps you can close now so you have more options later. Strengthen relationships with the people who influence decisions. And keep refining your personal brand so that, when the next round of uncertainty comes, you’re already seen as someone the company wants to keep.
Even if you’re proactive about understanding your risk, there are specific moves that smart professionals make quietly—before anyone else even starts worrying. First, they make themselves highly visible, not by bragging, but by ensuring key stakeholders understand the value they bring and how it ties to the core business. Second, they diversify their skill set, learning capabilities that could be useful across multiple teams or business units. Third, they nurture relationships inside and outside the company; they aren’t just networking when they need something, they’re building trust over time. Fourth, they track the health of the business continuously, so they can anticipate shifts before the company goes public with decisions. And finally, they quietly prepare options; resumes are current, LinkedIn profiles are polished, and side projects or professional development initiatives are in motion. These are not panic moves; they’re deliberate actions designed to keep their careers stable no matter what’s happening around them.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about surviving layoffs; it’s about taking control of your career trajectory. Paying attention to the signals, understanding your role, assessing your risk, and taking deliberate steps—whether your job feels secure or not—puts you in the driver’s seat. Companies will go through cycles of growth and contraction, and the professionals who thrive aren’t necessarily the luckiest—they’re the ones who plan, prepare, and position themselves for opportunity. By being thoughtful, proactive, and strategic now, you’re not just protecting your role; you’re building a career that can weather uncertainty and continue to move forward.
Key Points and Implications
| Key Concept | What It Means for You | Why It Matters |
| Understand company health | Track revenue drivers, product performance, and leadership priorities | Gives early warning signs of potential layoffs; allows proactive positioning |
| Know where your role fits | Identify whether your work generates, protects, or saves money | Roles tied closely to business-critical outcomes are less likely to be cut |
| Assess personal risk | Evaluate visibility, influence, and strategic alignment | Helps you make informed decisions about prioritizing your efforts or preparing a Plan B |
| Boost visibility and personal brand | Communicate value, align with core business objectives | People remembered for results and impact are more likely to stay in turbulent times |
| Warm up your network | Give value to colleagues, mentors, and contacts before asking for help | Networks respond better to proactive support, making future assistance more likely |
| Build transferable skills | Learn capabilities useful across teams and functions | Increases flexibility and keeps career options open, regardless of current role stability |
| Prepare quietly | Update resumes, LinkedIn, and side projects | Ensures readiness for unexpected change while maintaining professionalism and discretion |
Actionable Strategies
- Map Your Role to the Business
Write down how your daily work connects to revenue, cost savings, or key company priorities. Highlight these connections in your status updates, reports, and conversations with leadership. - Increase Strategic Visibility
Share achievements, insights, and progress tied to core business goals with decision makers. Regularly update them in concise, measurable ways—think Episode 44 on Reporting Status. - Invest in Skills for the Future
Identify one or two skills that increase your versatility or market value. Dedicate time each week to develop them through online courses, internal projects, or mentorship. - Nurture Relationships Continuously
Reach out to colleagues, leaders, and external mentors to offer help, share ideas, or provide feedback. Build goodwill now, so if you need support later, the foundation is already there. - Position Yourself Closer to Revenue
Seek opportunities to work on high-impact projects that tie directly to business outcomes. Even small contributions that connect to core objectives increase your value in the eyes of leadership. - Monitor Company Signals
Regularly review company updates, financial reports, and leadership communications. Watch for patterns—shifts in priorities, cancelled projects, or budget tightening—that may indicate upcoming changes. - Prepare Discreetly
Keep your resume, LinkedIn, and professional portfolio up to date. Consider side projects or certifications that strengthen your career resilience without signaling panic internally.
Remember, navigating a tough job market isn’t about luck; it’s about preparation, awareness, and action. By understanding the company, knowing where your role fits, assessing your risk, and taking deliberate steps to increase your visibility, skills, and network, you put yourself in the strongest possible position. Even if layoffs never come your way, these moves accelerate your career and make you more indispensable in meaningful ways. The professionals who thrive aren’t just reacting—they’re planning, positioning, and building careers that can weather any storm.
If you found today’s episode helpful, take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend who’s navigating uncertainty in their career. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to Managing A Career so you don’t miss future episodes packed with practical strategies to protect your role and accelerate your growth. Leaving a rating or review is a small action that makes a big difference—it helps other professionals find the show and gives us the feedback we need to keep delivering value. Take what you’ve learned today, start applying these moves quietly, and stay ahead of the storm.
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