In a span of 12 hours, I got three texts.
"My office is being shut down, and we're all getting let go."
"I'm being asked to leave."
"I was laid off with no prior warning, and a group of us are gone as of today."
This is one of the harshest realities of your career, but unless you work for yourself, you lease your job.
You show up and do the work in exchange for a salary and benefits, and the second the company thinks it's time for them to go in a different direction, they will.
You do not own your role and title, you lease it. Your desk, your laptop, the Google docs you work in, the company cell phone, the parking pass, the badge. All of it. You lease it from the company.
These three individuals who messaged me all randomly with the news of their situations are great people. They work hard, they put in the effort, and they strive to achieve more. They happen to be caught in the crossfire of organizational decisions. These organizational decisions can happen at any point in time, and it's always when we least expect it.
The only thing we can do is know what we control and what we don't and navigate these challenging times forward with the right mindset and attitude.
But it's a stark reminder that all this effort, time, stress, and anxiety that we place on a job can be taken for granted rather quickly. While we're up at night thinking about emails and interactions with our boss, someone can be planning our exit without us even knowing.
The reality is that job security, as we once imagined it, no longer exists. Companies evolve, markets shift, and sometimes, even top-performing employees find themselves without a role. These unexpected changes can feel deeply personal, but in most cases, they're purely business decisions. This doesn't make the experience any easier, but recognizing that the nature of work has changed can help us mentally prepare and plan for the future.
To navigate this landscape, it's crucial to invest in ourselves as much as we invest in our jobs. Building skills, expanding professional networks, and staying adaptable make us less vulnerable to these abrupt changes. Developing a mindset of continuous growth rather than complacency can help us stay ready for opportunities, whether they arise within our current company or somewhere new. The goal is to ensure that if the unexpected happens, we have the tools, resources, and connections to land on our feet.
It's also essential to keep in mind that our worth isn't tied solely to a job title or a company name. Too often, we equate our value with the roles we hold, but our skills, resilience, and the unique perspective we bring are what truly define us. The job is a part of our journey, but it's not the entirety of who we are. By reframing our identity around our personal and professional growth, we build a sense of self that remains intact, even when roles change.
For those facing a layoff, it's important to give yourself space to process the loss before moving forward. Losing a job can be an emotional experience that affects self-esteem, confidence, and motivation. Take the time you need to reflect, reach out for support, and reconnect with your goals. Lean on your network, explore new possibilities, and remind yourself that the end of one role often marks the beginning of another.
You also may be surprised to learn that a better role is lurking around the corner when you least expected it.
In the end, the realization that we're "leasing" our jobs is the hardcore reminder to prioritize our own development and adaptability. While no one can control the external factors that impact job security, we can control how we react, prepare, and respond. Become resilient, pursue growth, and view your career as a constantly evolving journey. We can face these unexpected shifts with greater confidence and optimism if we're open-minded to what the future holds while not allowing ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security.