Rebounding from a Layoff or Just Want to Build Your Confidence and Profile?

Whether you've been laid off, fear being laid off, or just want to build your confidence and profile, being proactive reduces the likelihood that you will suffer a layoff. You'll also be less likely to suffer in the face of a layoff. What do we mean? Consider that all else being equal, confident people do better in life. They don't let fear of failure paralyze them. Colleagues and clients are more likely to trust and hire them. Critically, and perhaps most importantly, confident people have more objectivity about what happened and are consequently able to discern what they could have done better and what wasn't within their control. Now let's build your confidence.

Five Tips for Building Your Confidence

If a lawyer is ambitious, there will be ups and downs. The ups are great. The downs are opportunities to build confidence and a stronger sense of self-confidence. A layoff is definitely a down, but it's also an opportunity.

1. Acknowledge your feelings. Don't let the pervasive culture of toughness prevent you from acknowledging your feelings of loss. Mindfulness is an excellent technique for transforming fear, anger, or hurt from pain into something you acknowledge, observe, and accept. Whatever you are feeling, it's okay.
2. Be objective. Objectivity and acceptance are critical to self-empowerment — to the confidence – necessary to move forward. Evaluate the circumstances surrounding your layoff. Is the work drying up? Did the firm lose a big client? Was it just you? If so, were you and the firm a fit for each other? Harsh as it may sound, most firms are all about the business. Further, even if you were treated badly on your way out the door, that is a poor reflection on the firm, not you.
3. Choose mindset. Don't choose to view a layoff as evidence of your lack of innate ability or value. When you notice yourself thinking thoughts of doom, remind yourself that you are resourceful and smart, and have grit. Muster a sense of humor.
4. Be present to move forward. Staying in the present moment will keep you focused on strategy and next steps. A focus on past regrets can demoralize as you lose objectivity. Negative fantasies about the future can result in anxiety and paralysis.
5. Evaluate fit. The opportunity with any layoff is to take the time to evaluate what is a good fit for you and your myriad needs. Reflect upon what's important to you about culture, type of work, virtual or hybrid environment, lifestyle, and compensation.

Now let's talk about who you know or, more to the point, who knows you. Whether you're in the market for a new job or are happy where you are, boosting your visibility can contribute to your success and satisfaction.