Must Read if You Think You Are About to Get the Ax!

Several scenarios may build up at your office that could indicate your job is on the chopping block; it's then that you begin to question your job performance. Your boss avoids you, the new hire takes over some of your duties, and your team looks to other people to move forward with assignments. If you believe your days are numbered, take relevant action to save your job.

Sometimes, you have yourself to blame. If you already know your job performance has been less than 100 percent, take concerted efforts to reinvigorate your passion for work. Other times, market forces beyond your control may lead to your company's desire to go in a different direction. While you should not go into a state of paranoia about your job status, take relevant steps to assess the situation and improve your job standing.

Examine the Signs

Analyze what happens to you, specifically, at work that remains different from past behavior. Does your boss micromanage your every move? Do you have frequent meetings to discuss your progress? Notice if work you normally do gets reassigned to others. Consider taking an assertive stance to take back your basic job duties, and ask your boss for reasons. Notice how people communicate with you; any sudden lack of the communication may not harbor good things for your future. Sudden managerial changes up the line may spell trouble, such as replacing your supervisor or your supervisor's boss. These signs, collectively, may mean you should pay attention to these changes and try to improve your job performance.

Talk to Your Boss

Have an open, honest conversation with your boss. Learn to understand your supervisor and where he comes from in terms of pressure he feels from management and from the team. Try to make your manager's job easier during difficult times. Ask your boss directly if there is a problem with your job performance that you can correct. If your boss confirms this information, take relevant steps to save your job.

Create a Plan

Create a performance improvement plan with your boss. This outlines specifics as to what you can do to improve your job performance. This may entail arriving early, staying late, taking on new duties or mentoring new employees. Remain disciplined until you fulfill all goals on the performance improvement plan and your boss signs off on your job security.

Go the Extra Mile

Remember when you were new at your job? You went the extra mile every day to impress your boss. Find that vigor again, and do extra things not shown on paper. Smile more, be a team player and learn to adapt to new situations as they arise. Help others so that those people look up to you as a valuable asset rather than someone to avoid. Go out of your way to connect to those around you in relevant ways to earn everyone's respect.

Practice Makes Permanent

When you practice your improved performance, make the changes permanent. This way, your boss has confidence that you've learned a lesson for the future.

Your new attitude about your job performance should help keep your job secure. If not, take this positive outlook to your next company. Someone else should notice your sunny disposition and accept you with open arms into a new job.

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