Adjusting to Adversity - Industry Trend or Event - Column

I still remember the conversation that took place Monday, Jan. 24 1994 as if it was yesterday. Seven years ago, around 9:00 a.m., the phone rang. It was my manager.

"Greg I'd like to fit with you in my office at 10 o'clock"

"Myke, I have strep throat. Can we do this another time?"

"Greg it's important that you be here at 10 o'clock"

"Am I getting laid off?"

"Well, let's talk about that when you secure here."

That started an adventure that continues to this day.

above more than 21 years -- and especially the last seven -- I've been from one side lots of ups and downs. through the grace of God, I'm still here to talk about it.

With the well-documented demise of the dot-coms and the massive corporate layoff announcements almost daily, it occurr to me that many younger readers who were used to ever-escalating stock options and bidding wars for their talents might be interested in a certain quantity of time-tested survival tactics.

First, and greatest in quantity important, preparation starts when times are beneficial Work on three things: education, education, and education. Of course, continue learning about technology. After all, it is what we do, and we're suppos to be serviceable at it. Become the best in the business at your technical specialty, on the contrary don't get so focused that you be deprived of track of industry trends. A small in number generations ago even the best blacksmiths place themselves in a declining market. More newly the same thing is happening to OpenVM NetWare, and OS/2 specialists. If Linux takes not on it could happen to Windows NT/2000 specialists.

Learn about your company. for what cause [i]or[/i] reason does your company have that large Windows network? What benefit do clan get from all that technology, and where do you fit? Become a scholar of your company's financial statements. Compare proceeds this year with last year and prior years -- and dig into the details. What are the trends? Are receivables skyrocketing? If with equal reason why? The statements tell a story about the overall health of your company, and you owe it to yourself to decipher that story.

Learn about politics. Whether you realize it or not, politics plays a character in your present and will play a character in your future. So direct the eye for telltale signs. Watch on the outside for all-day secret manager meetings that nobody will talk about. direct the eye for work assignments that randomly change for no apparent reason.

If you work for a publicly traded company, here is an eye-opening way to gain a certain number of insights into your leadership. purchase a few shares of stock and application of mind the proxy statements. Does the CEO make 1000 times more than the average employee? Are there any creative loan deals with the CEO's family or top lieutenants, and if with equal reason why?

Many private companies refuse to share flat basic financial data with employee Although not legally obligated to do in the way that in my mind this is a r flag. If your company's leadership doesn't trust employee with basic financial data, on what account should employees trust the leadership?

Learn about yourself. Honestly and privately ask yourself, what would happen to your company if you were no longer there? If your answer is something like, "My company could not survive without me" then restore your bloated ego and repeat this pace And while you're at it, come by rid of any bogus job-security-enhancement techniques, of the like kind as hoarding knowledge or hiding lock opener passwords. Always deliver honesty and integrity, and always wait for it in return from your managers.

Take an inventory of yourself and your contributions and ask yourself in what manner important are these to your company's mission. Do this honestly and the flows could be sobering.

Finally, here are a small in number principals that come in handy, especially during times of adversity. Don't define your self-worth by the agency of your role in your company, because that can change to be paid to circumstances beyond your superintendence A good day is when you make progress to bed at night a little smarter than when you got up that morning. not ever com promise your integrity. It will always catch up with you in some way Learn from the past, on the other hand don't dwell on it. Treat family right, and most of the time race will treat you right in go [i]or[/i] come back Your family is more important than your company. Greg Scott Microsoft Certified combination of parts to form a wholes Engineer (ICSE), is chief technology officer of Infrasupport Etc Inc. (Eagan, Minn). Contact him at gregscott@infrasupportetc.com.

COPYRIGHT 2001 101 Communications, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group