Given the current economy, there’s a great possibility that your company has gone through some layoffs within the last year. You may not be able to stop the layoffs, but you can definitely defend your job, and make sure you’re not the next one to go if they do occur. Between 2002 and 2003, I got laid off twice due to company restructures when the economy took the detour south after the 9/11 attacks. Luckily, in both occasions, I got hired back exactly the same day I lost my job by another business division. At the time I did not fully understand all the reasons why I was offered a job right away while some of my colleagues did not, but I’ll tell you that story another time. Below are some of the things I’ve learned since then which will keep your job safe.

1) I’m great! Do you think I’m great too?

You should always know what you manager thinks of you. You might be surprised to find out that even though you might hold the biggest stats in your team, and you meet all the business metrics, your manager may not think of you as one of the best employees. The easiest way is find out is to simply ask: How am I doing? Am I exceeding your expectations? Some employees feel intimidated to ask this question directly. If you are one o them, get over it, and ask it! You may think you are doing a fantastic job, but in the eyes of your boss, this could be different. You should never wait to the end of the year to get a performance review to find this out. Through the year, you have to approach your boss and ask: Am I on the right track? If you are, well great! But, if you are not, you have a chance to work and fix whatever the problem is. In your manager’s eyes, you have to be a Top Contributor, and the last person he or she would let go in the event of layoffs.

2) Merlin’s Crystal Ball:

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Do you sit at your desk and do well the job you are asked to do at your company? Maybe, you get to work on time, never call in sick unless you absolutely have to, and always meet the business metrics expected from you every month. If that’s so, do you ever wonder why other employees in your team get the good projects, obtain raises, and the promotions while years seem to pass by and you seem to be stuck doing the same kind of work in a dusty cubicle?

The answer may be simple: You are an average employee.

At this point, the best thing to do is to skip the denial and other stages of grief and accept it. The sooner you do, the sooner you can start on changing the situation and get to where you want to be.

So, how can you from average to Top Contributor?
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“Reading furnishes the mind only with the materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” John Locke.

Hello Top Contributors, It’s time to stretch our minds and learn new techniques to be successful at work. For that, we should always continue reading and furnishing our arsenal of knowledge. Then, we should Think! Make what you read yours, like Mr. Locke said, and go on to have a successful career.

I chose the beginning phrase to this article because it also relates to the book our Top Contributor Book Club is reading: Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill.

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As a Top Contributor, here are some goals you should pursue for this year. Do this, and your career will be propelled to new levels.

1. I will network with numerous employees in all divisions of my company and meet at least 3 new executives this year, who will know about my accomplishments and contributions to the company. I will also make use of social network sites, such as Linkedin and Facebook, to network with employees of other companies, who will serve as leverage if I decide to search for a new job.

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