Jay Washington, MBA, CEBS, AIF®, RICP®

Ask yourself what the root of the differences are. Is it ideas? Messaging? The person? Conflicts can be resolved if the parties want them to be. Conflicts don’t have to be a sport, one wins and the other loses. If there is respect and a willingness to see someone else’s view, a civil conversation can resolve conflict and maybe even lead to learning. If the conflict arises due to a person or persons having negative underlying feelings about another person on the team, the waters get murky. In subjective situations, people may allow their personal feelings to foster conflict, consciously or subconsciously. Choose positivity; life is too short to wallow in conflict.

There is often a thought that for someone to win, the other has to lose. That does not have to be the case. Dialogue is the key to getting to the root of any disagreement or differing opinion. It also leads to greater understanding and increases the ability to see a brand through someone else’s eyes.

Burnout is very real. Know your boundaries. Understand that sometimes, you cannot experience all the things. In addition, watch your diet and habits when traveling. Make time for your healthy activities. Integrate healthy activities into your day. Go to bed early instead of going out with colleagues/clients, so you can get up early to see the sun rise and get a walk in. Join a gym with nationwide locations. Recognize when you’re are fatigued & take steps to recharge your batteries. Plan your travel in advance when possible, so your personal life fits in with it. Make your work travel an adventure. Document your travels to remind yourself of all that you do and pat yourself on the back for the globe trotting workhorse you are!

Fail forward and emerge a better, more resilient you. There’s honor in failure. It means you tried. Think about what went wrong and if the task is worth a second attempt. Failure is growth.

Never take your employment status for granted. All 6 of the aforementioned topics should be a part of your regular routine. Network. Build your brand. Grow your skillset continuously. Stay cognizant of your place and value in your organization. These are all important to keeping yourself ready to face a layoff or position elimination. The ability to turn a layoff into a new adventure is there for those who position themselves as an asset and make their mark both inside and outside their organization. Believe in yourself enough and a layoff might actually become an opportunity to flex your resilience and remind yourself what you are made of. There’s a gift in every challenge if you’re prepared to receive it.

If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Always keep your resume updated and ready to distribute. Keeping your resume updated is a great way to remind yourself of your growing skill set.