Protect your job before it's too late and highlight the success of your outstanding project to your boss

February 20, 2023

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

I think you might be more interested in this blog as so much firing is happening. These months are the toughest months. Most hardworking employees were laid off.  The disheartening news has not yet ended. General excuse for firing is that the company is restructuring, cost cutting, investors back out etc. And sometimes we hear that people are fired because of poor performance too.

The month of February 2023 has been a tough one for many companies, with significant layoffs affecting some of the biggest names in the industry. From Roomba to Disney, Zoom to Dell, many companies have been forced to cut their workforce by up to 15%. Even tech giants like Google and Microsoft have not been immune, with layoffs affecting 6% and 4-5% of their workforces, respectively. Meanwhile, smaller layoffs have affected companies like 3M and Spotify, highlighting the impact of economic uncertainty on businesses of all sizes. With companies struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing market, it's clear that these layoffs are just the tip of the iceberg.

People losing jobs are affected by the sudden loss of income and benefits, which is causing financial strain. In 2022, there were 15.4 million layoffs in the U.S., with industries such as retail, hospitality, and transportation being particularly hard hit. 

In general, you know that employers have the right to terminate an employee's employment for reasons such as poor performance, misconduct, or redundancy. Everyone has this question: Will I get fired? This question makes us think and rethink the work we've done all along.

However, if you have performed well on a project and there is no evidence of poor performance or misconduct, it would generally be unreasonable for your employer to terminate your employment solely because they were unaware of the work you did on the project.

That said, it's still important to communicate your successes and accomplishments to your employer. This can help you build a stronger relationship with your boss. Also increase your visibility within the company, and potentially lead to new opportunities for growth and advancement.

Are you aware of the importance of visibility?

Everyone wants job security, especially in this highly competitive and uncertain job market. If you want to protect your job and advance your career, it's essential to showcase your achievements and demonstrate your value to your employer. In this post, I'll provide tips and strategies for highlighting the success of your outstanding project to your boss and taking proactive steps to secure your job.

According to a recent survey by Glassdoor, job security is the top concern for employees. In the current job market, 65% of respondents report that it's the most important factor in their job search. Job security is not just about financial stability; it's also crucial for career growth and peace of mind. Losing your job can be a significant setback, both professionally and personally. And can take a toll on your confidence and well-being.

Showcasing the success of your outstanding project

One of the most effective ways to demonstrate your value to your employer is by highlighting the success of an outstanding project. 

For example, let's say you're a marketing manager who recently launched a successful social media campaign that generated a significant increase in website traffic and sales. You can showcase the success of your project by providing concrete data and metrics, such as the number of leads generated, the conversion rate, and the ROI. You can also use storytelling techniques to illustrate the impact of your campaign, such as sharing customer testimonials or highlighting positive feedback from your team and stakeholders.

"Do not wait for opportunities, create them." - Roy T. Bennett

Have you ever wondered how to effectively demonstrate your value to your employer? It's actually quite simple, and I'm going to show you how below.

First of all, it's important to choose the right example to showcase your achievements. You want to focus on a successful project that can demonstrate your leadership skills. 

For example, you could say something like: "I was in charge of assigning specific presentations to team members, setting deadlines, and editing their material."

2. Provide proof of leadership

It’s important to provide proof of success. Don't just rely on your personal assessment of the project.  Your employer will likely be interested in something more objective. You can explain how your team determined that the project was a success, detail goals that were met, and include details about what you learned from the project—both the successes and problems. 

For example, "Two colleagues missed their deadlines, but we all pulled together to help them." After the conference, our client feedback was 100% positive, and I even received an email from one client who said this year's was the best yet."

3. Keep your manager informed of your progress

Another important tip is to keep your manager informed of your progress. You can't assume that your manager knows what you're doing. Your boss should know the progress you've made and the obstacles you've overcome. Make it your mission to provide that information to your boss. 

You should get on your manager's calendar bi-weekly or more frequently, and use that time to make sure he or she knows the status of each of your major projects. Also, highlight how you're leveraging relationships with other teams or colleagues and making your manager look good in the process.

4. Important to focus on results

Not just your activities, your results matter. Instead of giving your manager a list of tasks you've accomplished, explain what those tasks mean in the bigger picture.

For example, instead of saying, "Last week I met with 10 of our suppliers on rebidding the widget production, and then I had a conference call with the team to share our progress," you could say something like, "I successfully negotiated a new contract with 10 of our suppliers, which will save the company 20% in production costs."

5. Getting social proof. 

When someone acknowledges your work, ask them to make it official by sending a note to your manager about your contributions to the project. 

For example, "Thanks for recognizing me in the project wrap-up meeting this morning. The results we got together were outstanding. Would you be willing to send a note to my manager about my contributions to the project? She holds you in high regard, and it would be a tremendous amount of professional validation coming from you."

6. Try to get in front of decision-makers. 

The power of presenting your ideas and results well - and in front of the right audience - carries just as much weight in your career as actually doing the work. You can identify one of your strongest projects. One that you feel confident talking about. Tell your manager you'd like the chance to present the progress of the project to higher-ups. I suggest it as a good opportunity for you to improve your speaking abilities and learn how to present to upper-level managers.

In addition to showcasing your achievements, it's essential to take proactive steps to protect your job and make yourself indispensable to your employer. Here are some strategies you can use:

By cultivating positive relationships with your colleagues and bosses, you can demonstrate your value as a team player and a leader. You can also leverage these relationships to gather feedback and support for your projects and ideas.

By keeping up with the latest developments in your industry and learning new skills, you can position yourself as a valuable asset to your employer. You can also use this knowledge to identify new opportunities for growth and innovation.

By taking the initiative to gather feedback from your boss and colleagues and addressing any concerns or issues that arise, you can demonstrate your commitment to your job and your willingness to improve and learn.

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." - Christian D. Larson

I know you might be confused about how to update your achievements with your manager or boss. Don't worry, I have a solution for that too. So, you can give your exceptional work to your boss in two ways. Either by talking in person or via mail. Let's look at those one by one:

It is not that easy to go to the boss and talk about anything without any structure. Because your style also depends on the company's culture and how hands-on your boss is. You should have some expectations about yourself and what you hope to get out of the conversation. That is where you decide which project you want to be remembered for.

Depending on the company culture, your boss's style, and what you hope to get out of the conversation, you may want to focus on talking about your future with the company, asking for a raise or promotion, or simply demonstrating that you're hitting milestones.

2. Sending an email to the boss:

You might want to send an email before going on a one-on-one call with your boss. because it already lays the groundwork for you. And if you are trying to present your achievement via mail, I would suggest utilizing some methods to structure that. One such effective method I have mentioned is the “CAR” method.

The CAR method focuses on three essential elements:

C – the context (explain the context in which your actions happened)

A – the actions (what exactly these actions involved)

R – the results (describe the actual results that you achieved)

Here are some questions you can ask yourself when writing an email about your achievements:

Keep your email structured, short, and to the point, and try to include percentages or statistics if possible. If your job requires certain qualities, like teamwork, be sure to explain how you used these qualities to complete a task. Adjust the tone of your email based on your boss's communication style.

By taking proactive steps to showcase your achievements and protect your job, you can improve your job security and advance your career. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, it's never too late to take control of your career and demonstrate your value to your employer. So why wait? Start taking action today and see how you can improve your job security and career prospects.

Let's look at a great success story.

One of my mentees was feeling frustrated and overlooked at work. Despite her best efforts, she wasn't getting the recognition she felt she deserved from her boss. At first, she was hesitant. She worried that she might be putting her job at risk by speaking up, or that her boss might dismiss her concerns out of hand. But with little encouragement, she decided to take the plunge and request a meeting.

To her surprise, the meeting turned out to be a turning point in her career. Her boss listened carefully as she explained her contributions to the company, and expressed his appreciation for her hard work. He also shared some of his own concerns about the direction of the company, and invited her to take on a more prominent role in driving innovation and growth.

Do you ever feel like you're not reaching your full potential at work? Maybe you're struggling to stand out among your colleagues or having trouble communicating your achievements to your boss. If so, you're not alone.

Many professionals face the same challenges in the workplace. But it doesn't have to be this way. With the right guidance and coaching, you can unlock your potential and become a top performer in your field.

Imagine being able to confidently tackle any challenge that comes your way. Imagine yourself excelling in your role, earning recognition from your colleagues and superiors, and reaching new heights in your career.

If you're ready to take your career to the next level, my coaching program can help you get there. I have helped countless professionals like you overcome their obstacles and achieve their goals. Contact me today to learn more and take the first step towards a brighter future.

So why wait? Contact to start your journey towards success.

There you have it—a comprehensive guide on how to effectively demonstrate your value to your employer. I will see you in my next post. Good luck!