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How to handle your fear of the economy

Submitted by SHNS on Thu, 11/06/2008 - 15:01

Sometimes the best offense is a strong defense, and I'm not talking football. This is not about job searching, but job keeping. According to most people, our economy is in crisis, and workers everywhere are full of white-knuckle fear - scared to death about what may happen next. Bill Treasurer, founder of Giant Leap Consulting, a national training company, and author of "Courage Goes to Work" (Berrett-Koehler), offers five tips to help workers deal with fear in scary economic times.1. Refocus on your work. Fear is the enemy of productivity. Get clear on what needs to be done - right here, right now - and go about the business of doing it. If you're not contributing, you may be in danger. Stop being in denial. Know your job, and then do it.2. Stop playing it safe. Ditch the herd. While everyone else is hiding, you can stand up and stand out, getting noticed for your talent and contributions. It's easy to follow the herd. It takes effort to lead.3. Form a posse. Create an inner circle - a small group of co-workers who you can trust and turn to when the going gets really tough. Take turns being "the positive one" and injecting a daily shot of courage.4. Find a productive distraction. What makes you feel better - a little stronger or braver? U2 on your iPod? A can-do mantra? A long run at lunch? Identify that one little thing - your own personal "fear buster" - and use it early and often.5. Just say "no" to the pity party. It's tempting to commiserate with co-workers. Don't do it. It will stoke your fears and shake your confidence even more.Bad news sells, so expect drama in your daily newspaper and TV news shows. Even if you love drama yourself, leave it at home when you go to work. Your workplace needs a positive attitude, not a continuing contribution to negativity. You can change the negative tide and have a positive effect on your co-workers and customers by being positive and productive. Bad news sells but a positive attitude is contagious, so spread the positive germ all around you and watch what happens. You just might help ensure your own future, and that's a good thing.(Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)