In early April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 80,000 jobs were lost in March — and almost a quarter of a million since the beginning of the year. Many analysts are predicting that net job losses are likely to continue at least through August.

This news may be causing you to feel fearful for your own job, particularly if you work for a large corporation. That’s understandable. But now isn’t the time to panic. Instead, take action to avoid becoming a statistic.

The Good, the Bad, and the Great

So when the workforce reduction ax swings in your company, who will it hit? Bad employees? Sure, if any are still around. Good employees? Yes, those too.

Good employees are the single biggest problem a boss faces. When you talk to truly successful business owners or managers, they’ll tell you it’s not the bad employees who concern them — they’ll ultimately quit or get fired. It’s the ones who do what it takes to be OK, but never enough to be great. So if you’re merely good, you may be vulnerable. So be great.

The skeptics out there will argue that when jobs are cut, it doesn’t really matter who you are — that no one’s safe. Trust me, those skeptics will be the ones who lose their jobs first. Let them be skeptical, and wish them well. You need your own game plan.

How do you get one? I suggest you start by asking yourself the following six questions. If you can answer each with a “yes,” you’re on the right track to job security:

1. Would you hire you?

Because people always laugh at truths — particularly uncomfortable ones. And people seem to think the idea of hiring themselves is really funny.

2. Are you focused?

Many things drive bosses crazy. I know because I run my own company, and because I spend a lot of time with other entrepreneurs. At the heart of what drives bosses crazy is employees who don’t focus on doing their job well. Worse, many simply don’t do their job at all.

3. Do you have a positive, can-do attitude?

Nothing takes more air out of an organization than employee negativity. People who whine, complain, or are just plain indifferent are disliked by bosses and create a lousy work environment as they drag others down with them.

4. Are you indispensable?

Do you have skills or experiences that other employees don’t have? Computer skills? Foreign-language skills? Can you do a lot of different jobs in the organization, or are you limited?

5. Are you visible?

Do you show up for work on time — or better yet, early? When your boss comes in at 9 a.m., are you already there getting a head start on the workday?

6. Are you a leader?

Leaders don’t wait to be told what to do. They look to expand their role in ways that benefit the company, not just themselves. They take on responsibilities that no one else wants, and do them well.
so are We good enough??