What a difference four or five years makes. Five years ago, we were in the throes of a pandemic that sadly took lives and changed many others. Employment tanked. Four years ago, it rebounded, and the economy followed. Employees could all but name their price, so to speak. Now, that’s ancient history in the advent of AI. The inevitable pendulum swing now favors fewer jobs, and of course, fewer employees. It’s not just Artificial Intelligence, but also a post-COVID society, culture shift, and change now economy setting the pace. Is it time for you to read the room?
This assumes you’re in the room (employed) but also applies to recent grads, job changers, and stalled career employees. You would do well to grasp and apply three basics to keep any bank account in the black and career on track. Consider this a courtesy coaching session.
Heads Up To Read The Room
Managers are known to encourage staffers to just do your job. The inference to this head down, keep working directive is it will all work out. For everyone. That thinking is generationally dated, but some staffers do it anyway. Not that they have nose to the grindstone, but rather fail to read the room of their industry, company, or discipline. In some cases, they simply don’t read. Any factor, trend, technology associated with your craft is on your reading list. Everything about AI is must read. This heads-up awareness is step-one preparation for what may come… that can be good as sure as it will be bad if you sleep on change in the room.
Handwriting On The Wall
Once you’re aware, work on your translation skills. The phrase “handwriting on the wall” literally speaks of a drunken king, consumed with himself, and deep into the party life of the day. He became aware, but too late to save his life or kingdom. As you read the room and develop awareness, you develop the savvy to take action before someone handwrites your fate in a pink slip.
Having A Plan Is Not Enough
Business today is moving toward a reality beyond the buzzwords of consolidation, efficiency, and right-sizing. That means right for the company. And it is often unavoidable. Close to home, near and dear, and by way of example, consider local broadcasting. Technology drove audiences to streaming as cord-cutting, viewership erosion, and diminished revenue followed. Consolidators have the current administration’s ear, and a wave of efficiency is coming in 2026. It will be painful.
Having a plan provides hope to go with pain. Having activated a plan means stepping up and out if and when necessary. That’s a whole additional coaching session, but the first steps today are clear. Read the room. Translate the handwriting. Activate your plan.
What’s a near certainty is employment change is around the corner no matter what you do. Be assured, employers know all about change resistance. In the AI era, there is no resisting. There’s surviving… and not. Read, translate, activate.
