| Have you ever had a sports injury? A sprained ankle | | | | about your situation. |
| whilst out running, tennis elbow or torn ligaments | | | | Many people I meet have a macho "mask" they |
| from football or rugby maybe? I have had more than | | | | wear and avoid showing any sign of vulnerability. It's |
| my fair share of sporting injuries over the years, | | | | probably a banking thing... |
| mainly from running or playing football. Everything | | | | Well drop the mask - the more people who know, |
| from an injured back, knee ligaments, twisted ankles, | | | | the more support you have. And the sooner you tell |
| damaged Achilles tendon, torn calves, dislocated | | | | them, the more 'special' they'll feel, and so will want |
| fingers, strained groin - you name it, I've had it. In | | | | to help you more. |
| fact, some of my friends think I should just become | | | | 3. Update your recruiters |
| a physiotherapist as I seem to know so much about | | | | Call 2-3 recruiters or head-hunters who you know to |
| treating and recovering from injuries! | | | | update them. |
| With all this first-hand experience, I now understand | | | | Don't worry about updating CVs / resumes just yet |
| the 6 essential steps to be taken in the first few | | | | or even going to meet recruiters. You just want to |
| hours and days to ensure a speedy recovery - rest, | | | | be on their radar in case something interesting comes |
| ice, compression, elevation, taking anti inflamatories | | | | up. If they call you with what sounds like the right |
| (e.g. ibuporfen) and seeing an expert such as a | | | | opportunity then that becomes your cue to update |
| physiotherapist or chiropractor. Taking these actions | | | | the CV / resume. |
| in the first 48 hours helps get over the initial shock | | | | 4. Book a meeting with a career expert |
| to the body whilst really accelerating the recovery | | | | If your firm offered you professional career coaching |
| process. This very same principle applies to dealing | | | | through an outplacement firm (e.g. Penna, DBM, Right |
| with another type of shock - losing your job. | | | | Management etc), then call and book a first meeting |
| In my experience of helping redundant people back | | | | with your consultant for the coming week. Even if |
| into new jobs and new careers, there are similarly 6 | | | | you plan to 'think about things' for a while, it's a good |
| steps which must be taken in the first 48 hours to | | | | idea to set up a first meeting to help with your |
| ensure you quickly get your career back on rack. | | | | thought process. |
| The 6 steps are not exactly rocket science - most | | | | If your employers haven't made arrangements - then |
| people will take the majority of these actions over | | | | start thinking about whether you need to find |
| time. But key point is about the TIMING of these | | | | professional help get your career back on track. Just |
| actions. | | | | like working with a physiotherapist, a career expert |
| Icing and strapping up a twisted ankle a week after | | | | will accelerate your progress. |
| an injury may have some effect. But doing it in the | | | | 5. Avoid being a 'victim' |
| first few hours reduces the pain and swelling whilst | | | | Whilst it's OK being a little 'all over the place,' avoid |
| flooding that part of the body with everything that is | | | | the temptation to bad-mouth your employers, your |
| needed to repair the injury. | | | | boss or HR - even if it's just in your head. Being a |
| Similarly, taking the actions listed below within 48 | | | | victim gets you nowhere fast. |
| hours of being made redundant will reduce the pain | | | | Whilst you might think "oh, I'd never say those things |
| and mobilise a support network around you, whilst | | | | out loud to others" it doesn't matter. Trust me, if |
| providing you with the mental strength to make a | | | | you're being a victim I can see it written on your |
| speedy return to the career of your choice. | | | | forehead and hear it in the tone of your voice on the |
| 1. Give yourself permission | | | | phone. |
| Give yourself permission to be a bit 'all over the | | | | 6. Start planning a break |
| place.' | | | | Whether it's just a weekend, 2 weeks or 6 months |
| It's not uncommon to have a whole set of conflicting | | | | travelling around the world, it's important to create |
| emotions - feeling sad, angry, shocked, in denial as | | | | some time to get away. The change of scenery will |
| well as relieved, happy, ecstatic even - all within the | | | | give you time to reflect, think and come back with a |
| first few days. Being 'up and down' emotionally is part | | | | fresh perspective. |
| of the process, so don't worry about it. | | | | Just like recovering from a sports injury, you only |
| 2. Recruit an unpaid support team | | | | have a short window of opportunity to kick start |
| Rather than holding back out of embarrassment or | | | | your progress after redundancy. If you miss the |
| shame, ensure you inform your own inner circle of | | | | window, you will still recover - but it just may just |
| what has happened as soon as you know about it. | | | | take a little longer than you would like. |
| Friends, family, colleagues and clients should all know | | | | |