Being Unemployed Lowers the Immune System

While we understand the financial ramifications of being out of work, are we aware of what being unemployed does to our health? Dr. Edward C. Geehr, writer for Life Script reports on two separate studies conducted on unemployed individuals in his article: Can Unemployment Make You Sick? These studies conducted in Sweden and San Francisco concluded that the immune systems of unemployed individuals weaken, and as they weaken the person falls victim to a number of illnesses.

It's Tough to Find a Job & Tougher to Keep it

In a day where companies are constantly downsizing, shutting their doors, or moving to other parts of the country the chances of being unemployed have increased. With more people vying for the same job, it becomes tougher to get a job, and even tougher to keep it. How can we make our position more secure? This topic had been on my mind, when a book caught my eye “How to Keep Your Job in Hard Times: The Indispensable Employee” by Eric Weber.

I want to “beat the odds”, and become “irreplaceable”, so I bought the book, and want to share some highlights with you.

Don't Just be a Paper Pusher

Paper pushers are a dime a dozen. If we want to become the last person the boss would think of letting go, we want to demonstrate our ability to learn the tasks required of us, and perform them in a fashion that is not simply mediocre.

HOW?

Eric interviewed various company presidents to ask them just that, and here are some of their answers:

“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COMPANY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT RATHER WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COMPANY.”

Sound familiar? I remember a rousing presidential speech with a line very close to this. Eric explains that top executives are tired of selfish employees who whine and belly ache and look out for themselves all the time. Their selfish attitude poisons the work forces, and makes the management staff wonders if this person has made a commitment to the company, or is simply there for “free ride”.

LOOK FOR WAYS TO SOLVE THE COMPANY'S PROBLEMS

Your boss most likely likes to talk, and by keeping your ears open, you can find out what issues the company is up against. By demonstrating that you are concerned about your company's welfare, you show team spirit. As a team player, you may have feedback that will assist the company in addressing these problems, and in showing yourself to be even more valuable.

DON'T LEAD THE COMPANY TO REVOLT

Do you think if you start a campaign against company policy or because you didn't get an expected raise, that management won't realize who stirred up the trouble? I have seen a company where the entire staff was fired. It can happen, but most likely, the individual who stirred up the trouble will be the first to go.

DON'T SHOW THE BOSS UP

There is no crime in being smarter than your boss, but a smart employee knows not to make his boss feel stupid.

YOU CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS, BUT DO IT HIS WAY

Your boss is probably aware of the fact that you have performed this task hundreds of times, and may know an easier way to do it. You can make a suggestion to him, tactfully, but if he insists it be done his way, he may have a good reason.

Do not argue for the sake of arguing, and most definitely do not argue in front of others.

IF YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT, TAKE YOUR HIT AND KEEP MOVING

What good does it do to nurse grudges, because you feel that you have been treated unfairly? When energy is being expended on nursing injustices, it distracts from the work performance. Don't let that happen to you.

PERFORM WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

You've been assigned a near impossible job, do you say “No way, or I will do my best”?

Ask questions. Learn all aspects of the job expected and put your all into it.

PRIORITIZE

It is pretty common to have a number of tasks that need performed in any given day, but do one completely (if possible) before attempting to tackle the next. If a piece of paper can be handled once, and the job completed, it is more efficient, than performing small tasks on each paper, and then picking each of them up again to complete them. Stay focused.

ASK FOR MORE WORK

Suppose you find that you have completed all your tasks, do you sit down and do “busy work” trying to appear as if you are doing something? Approach your supervisor and request more work. This demonstrates your ability to complete tasks in a timely manner, your ability to be a team player, and your willingness to take on more responsibility.

Eric gives us one word of caution with this point, however. He warns that you should be certain your supervisor knows that usually you are extremely busy, and will again be busy tomorrow. You would not want him to think that there is not enough work to keep you there.

MEET YOUR DEADLINES

Supervisors give assignments to those they feel are trustworthy. By demonstrating your ability to get the job done in a timely fashion, you show yourself as being dependable.

COME TO WORK ON TIME

This should not even have to be mentioned. If an employer hires you to work from 9:00 to

5:00, they expect you to be at your job ready to perform at that time, not five minutes later.

Come in earlier, just in case something happens on the way to work. Demonstrate your ability to be punctual.

GET TO KNOW YOUR BOSS

If the boss has to decide who to let go, and you have been following all of the above tips, he would rather let a stranger go, then someone he has gotten to know.

This is just a synopsis of the 39 tips included in Eric's book. Eric Weber has had over 30 books published and sold over four million copies. He was the Vice Chairman and Creative Director at Young & Rubicam at the time of the publishing of this book.

In conclusion, these tips are provided for those who are employed in order to make them more valuable to their employee and less likely to be terminated. It is unfortunate and difficult to lose one's job, and sometimes cannot be prevented. My prayers go out to anyone who is seeking employment, especially in Michigan.

The Definition of Lead

On the other hand, there is nearly an entire column used to define “lead” the transitive verb associated with leadership “to travel, to show the way, or direct the course of, by going along with; conduct; guide... (1980). “Leading” is listed as one of the four functions of management. The four functions are “planning, organizing, leading, and controlling” ((2004). As cited in the text, leading is essential in functioning as an effective manager.

David and Goliath

Amazing stories have stood out in our history lessons spanning the lifetimes of our ancestors and ours depicting various leaders and their selflessness and heroism. These stories continue to motivate and inspire us to achieve greatness. When we think of leaders, we think of David, who as a small lad, stood up against the feared giant, Goliath, and killed him. Although the odds were very much against him, he rose up to the challenge, and conquered the enemy. In one courageous move, he inspired armies to follow him. Had he been a manager and not a leader, would the goal have been accomplished?

Vision

A leader has vision. David envisioned Goliath defeated. In his mind's eye, he saw the victory. A manager, plans things out, and reviews his plans. There is always plan “A” and plan “B” in case plan “A” doesn't work.

He Organizes

It is his job to recruit the type of workforce needed to the job site, and then to specify job duties, allocate resources, and maximize work conditions to achieve the highest level of potential possible (2004).

He Motivates

He must then work closely with his staff in order to teach and motivate them. He needs to be able to not only share his vision, but demonstrate it.

He Leads by Example

This is where his leadership skills come into play. Managers “talk the talk”, but leaders “walk the walk”. Telling staff to be to work at a certain time, when management strolls in at whatever time they feel like, is not demonstrating true leadership. A leader is a part of the team, and as such works side by side with the team members.

Leaders Listen

The leaders communicate, and listen effectively to other staff. They appreciate the input and insight.

Leaders are Flexible

The fourth function of management is controlling. This is used to monitor progress, and implement changes when necessary to be certain that the team is going in the right direction.

When progress is not properly gauged, it becomes impossible to judge whether the goal is being met. While a manager is measuring progress, and making whatever changes need made, a leader is progressing with the team, and can make the changes instantaneously.

Leaders are Observant

Managers have different options in resolving issues, such as progressive discipline: warning, writing up and finally terminating. In the event of terminating staff, they now have to deal with retraining a new staff member, and easing the fears of the remaining staff members, who are wondering if they will be terminated next. Leaders, on the other hand, work closely with their staff, and in doing so, may have seen the issue that needed resolved long ago. Perhaps, it was something that could have been worked out easily, with further instruction, resifting of duties or a rescheduling of hours. If that was the case in resolving the issue beforehand, the fired individual would have become a more loyal and dedicated staff member, who would now be willing to give 100%, and remaining staff would not be working in fear, and would feel renewed dedication to their tasks.

Leaders are Team Players

While working closely with the leader, the team catches his spirit, and comes to work feeling motivated to perform well. Work does not feel like another four letter word, something dreaded, but as an enjoyable task. Attendance will improve, as will work production.

People, who are stressed, have higher overall incidents of illness, which is sometimes created by a stressful work environment. Even healthy people put their health at risk, by being involved in constant conditions of stress, as reported by Jennifer Warner in WebMD. “Studies show people with medical conditions such as heart disease, mental illness, or other chronic diseases are most vulnerable to the negative consequences of stress, but healthy people are also at risk” (2005).She goes on to advise that constant stress can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death. There are many research studies relating to illness and stress.

Another site describes how a hormone referred to as neuropeptide Y is released by the body during periods of stress. One of the Garvan Institute in Sydney's researchers, Professor Herzog, stated “And it's known for example that it (neuropeptide Y) regulates blood pressure and heart rates so your heart rates go up... Now we have proven without doubt that there is a direct link and that stress can weaken the immune system that makes you more vulnerable when you for example have a cold or flu and even the more serious situations such as cancer can be enhanced in these situations” (2005).

Leaders Care

This is another compelling reason to enlist true leaders, as managers in an organization. Leaders embody compassion, and instill vision. Leaders are highly motivated, have a basic knowledge of the job that needs to be done and the requirements needed to perform that job. A leader can draw on experience, or knows how to tap into the knowledge needed to perform the assignment. He or she has enthusiasm and drive. A manager might instruct staff to do an assignment, but a leader knows how to do that assignment, and leads by example. A leader would not ask you to do something unethical, or unfair, because they have your best interest at heart, and that of the organization. When staff's interests are overlooked in order to achieve a goal, the goal becomes skewed.

Leaders Train Leaders

A goal must be a worthy mission, and staff will unite to pursue the goal, when lead by a leader, a leader who bears in mind the cost and the prize. If the cost is too high for just one member, the team is unable to perform as well as it could. The prize is all the more glorious, when each member has followed their leader to the finish line, and received the trophy. Up from the ranks, new leaders will emerge, to replace the existing leader, not from confrontations, but because the leader has successfully challenged and taught. The current leader may feel the need to involve their selves with an even greater challenge, as they move up the corporate ladder or endeavor to change career paths.