Redundancy feels like a slap in the face.
I’ve been there.
It started with us moving into a much smaller office.
I knew the company was struggling financially, so it made sense to reduce the overhead expenses. I wasn’t prepared though for what came next.
A couple of weeks later, we were called into a meeting. And just like that, by 12pm, I no longer had a job.
I remember walking out with a folder in my hands, not being able to stop crying.
These moments really mess with the stability you’ve built. And they impact your confidence somehow. They mess with your self-worth and send you to panic response.
There is a different way of looking at it though. Admittedly, I was unable to see these different perspectives back then. But I know there are some very strong people out there, so I’m going to name them anyway.
The first one is to embrace the break.
When something ends this abruptly, there is inevitably nothing that follows.
It can feel uncomfortable at first, but it also creates the opportunity to reflect on what wasn’t fully working. We tend to fall into habits without fully noticing if they actually serve us. A break like this is a fabulous opportunity to check in with yourself and make sure that the role, this sort of company, the work set up etc all suit your personality and lifestyle. If something needs to be adjusted, now is the time.
The second mindset shift is separating what happened from who you are.
It’s easy to take redundancy personally. To question your value and capability. But usually, these decisions have nothing to do with your individual performance.
Holding onto that distinction can soften some of the self-doubt that creeps in. Instead, you can fill that space with the growth you are experiencing due to the difficult time you’re being put through. Someone who has experienced redundancy is for sure more resilient, more adaptable and more empathetic than someone who has always experienced the stability of employment.
And the third shift is to gently turn towards possibility.
Not in a rushed, “what’s next?” kind of way. More in a curious, open way. What could this make space for? What might I want more of now that I didn’t own before? You may have considered self-employment for a while, but never had the strength or headspace to do anything about it. Now is the time.
Redundancy is hard.
There’s no way around it.
But where one door closes, another opens. Make it intentional.
And if you give it a bit of time and attention, it can lead you somewhere that fits better than what you had before.
If you’re navigating redundancy and feel unsure what matters most right now, you’re welcome to book a call with me, using this link.
I offer a free consultation where we can gently explore your priorities and make sense of what this transition could open up for you.
Career change coaching 