Lessons Learned from Being Made Redundant: Overcoming a Funk and Recharging for the Future
I've been unemployed for three weeks; it started as some complete downtime, but with a big hole where my job used to be. In the broadest sense, my plan is to Stop-Recharge-Reengage-Restart.
I've been through what I call "the funk" - a period of feeling lost, unmotivated, and unsure of what the future holds - this is what coming to a stop is all about.
·????????I missed Microsoft Teams, or more accurately, the people I was in contact with.
·????????I intentionally tried to stop thinking about the wonderful Open Polytechnic and its merger into Te Pūkenga. But doing so was hard, and I found myself unable to stop watching and caring – yet frustratingly unable to contribute too.
·????????I missed the familiar shape of my working days, up, coffee, run, work, dinner, relax, repeat.
·????????I missed the familiar shape of my week, where the weekend has a unique shape of its own.
·????????I lost sense of the day and the value of using my time wisely.
When I made my last LinkedIn 'open to work' post, I was in my deepest funk and posted it intentionally.?I hoped that some of my friends and colleagues would be the catalyst to lift me from Stop (funk) to Recharge, and boy, did you all deliver.?
?I could not have imagined the scale of replies and messages I received; they helped and galvanised me into action; the funk has lifted, and the recharge adventures have started!
领英推荐
Over the coming weeks, as I go through this journey, I will try something new.?I'll be posting some of my observations on the various stages of this path less travelled.
To anyone else going through a similar experience, know you're not alone. Feeling lost and unsure is okay, but don't give up. Take time to reflect, lean on your support system, and keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Future Paul here! these are the links to the rest of the blogs I made on redundancy.
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Technical Lead Onsite
1 年I am dealing with my first redundancy and learning to manage things. My very close friend sent me a link to one of your articles as I'm dealing with my first ever redundancy and learning how to manage things - You last paragraph "To anyone else going through a similar experience, know you're not alone. Feeling lost and unsure is okay, but don't give up. Take time to reflect, lean on your support system, and keep moving forward, one step at a time." gives me some sense of comfort in this uncertain and alien time of my career. Thank you Paul Fallon - please keep posting - these are good reads and makes me think
Director at Black SANZ Technologies Ltd (BAppIS)
1 年I remember seeing others go through the redundancy process and thinking that it was because they weren't a good fit for their job or it just wasn't needed and it's for the good of the company. Sometimes it can give you the shove need to change what you were afraid to change yourself. I was made redundant from a company known for its regular redundancies almost every 18-24 months despite them being ridiculously profitable. I was seen as not a good fit because I dared to question and challenge why they were not looking after their customers and staff the way I thought they should. Many preferred to talk privately, which might have been wiser. The best revenge has been to create my own company 10 years ago. However at one point early on in our company we nearly needed to make someone redundant because times were tough. We didn't and it cost us dearly and nearly sunk us. Someone wise told me that life can be a series of brick walls where you have no choice but to turn a corner and take a different direction. Eventually you get better at recognising when to do something different but also to realise it's not your fault, it's just life. Good Luck and I hope things improve quickly.
Cybersecurity Professional | Cloud Security/Arch/Admin - 4x Azure/1x AWS | Systems & Security Engineer | CISSP | CySA+ | IT Trainer | Consultant
1 年Nice insights, Paul. Rewording Winston Churchill - When going through "funk", keep going! Kia Kaha!
Happily retired - working on allyship
1 年Great idea! The first time I was made redundant I went into "victim mode". The second time, I took charge of the process and negotiated for what I needed. It may happen again - now I know not to fear it.
Exploring our planet. Former facilitator of multi-organisation collaboration. Pragmatic optimist.
1 年Good on you! It's courageous to recognise what's going on in your head and heart and walk with it and through it. Even more so to share in a spirit of growth. Great to see you're out and about in the hills - best place to heal a dented spirit and rejuvenate for the next (and better) bit of the journey.