Episode: 44 Layoff Season Prep - Building Resilience Through Visibility

Host: Nathan Pearce

Release Date: August 9th

Duration: 13 minutes

Episode Summary

When layoffs loom, most professionals hide—but the people who bounce back fastest are the most visible, not necessarily the most qualified. This episode reveals why "keeping your head down" during uncertain times actually makes you more vulnerable and introduces the RISE framework for building career resilience through strategic visibility.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this episode, you'll be able to:

🎯 Recognize the difference between helpful and harmful professional visibility

🎯 Identify your current visibility gaps that create career vulnerability

🎯 Apply the RISE framework to build resilience networks before you need them

🎯 Create a weekly contributions tracker that helps your manager advocate for you

🎯 Develop strategic external relationships that expand your professional safety net

🎯 Execute the Resilience Visibility Framework across internal and industry networks

🎯 Transform uncertainty from a threat into an opportunity for strategic positioning

Key Takeaways

🔹 67% of layoff decisions are influenced by "organizational visibility factors" – how well leadership knows and understands your contributions matters more than pure performance metrics

🔹 The Invisibility Trap makes you more vulnerable – hiding to protect yourself during uncertain times actually reduces your protection by limiting who can advocate for you

🔹 Strategic visibility builds resilience networks – thoughtful visibility creates the relationships and reputation that provide career safety during turbulent times

🔹 Internal documentation is business intelligence – weekly wins reports aren't bragging, they're strategic communication that helps your manager understand and articulate your value

🔹 External relationships provide perspective and opportunities – maintaining connections outside your company keeps you informed about industry trends and creates alternative pathways

🔹 Visibility improves your current job performance – explaining your work to others clarifies your thinking and engaging with industry discussions sparks new ideas

Reflection Questions

💭 If you left your job tomorrow, could your manager clearly articulate your specific contributions to their boss?

💭 Do people outside your immediate team know what you're good at and can they easily refer opportunities your way?

💭 If a recruiter asked five people in your industry about your professional reputation, what would they say?

💭 What's one insight from your recent work that you could share (in general terms) that would add value to your professional network?

💭 Who are two colleagues who should know each other that you could introduce this week?

This Week's Action Step

Create Your Contributions Tracker: Spend 15 minutes documenting three wins from this past week and their business impact. Set a recurring Friday calendar reminder to maintain this practice. This becomes the vocabulary your manager needs to advocate for you during crucial decisions.

The RISE Framework Quick Reference

🔍 Recognize: Distinguish between helpful visibility (showcasing value, expertise, collaboration) and harmful visibility (complaints, conflicts, empty self-promotion)

🕵️ Investigate: Assess your visibility gaps by asking whether people inside and outside your team understand your contributions and can refer opportunities to you

📋 Strategize: Plan across three timeframes:

• Immediate (30 days): Internal positioning and contribution documentation


• Short-term (90 days): Industry engagement and external network building


• Long-term (12 months): Thought leadership and expertise positioning

🚀 Execute: Implement the Resilience Visibility Framework:

• Document and communicate wins internally


• Become the connector who introduces valuable contacts


• Share expertise strategically through thoughtful industry engagement


• Build your cross-company professional portfolio


• Cultivate external relationships through regular coffee chats

Resources & Links

📚 Free Downloads:

• Professional Resilience Assessment - Complete assessment and planning templates


• The Layoff Preparedness Checklist - Comprehensive professional safety net guide

📧 Newsletter: Subscribe to Reclaim Your Professional Identity

🌐 Main Website: https://www.professionalindependence.com/

🎁 Free Layoff Recovery Webinar: https://www.professionalindependence.com/layoff-recovery

🏎️ Layoff Recovery Accelerator (4-week program): https://www.professionalindependence.com/layoff-recovery-accelerator

Community Spotlight

💫 Reader Success Story: "I started sharing weekly 'lessons learned' posts about project management on LinkedIn. Nothing groundbreaking, just honest insights from my work. Three months later, when our department got restructured, I had two external job offers and an internal transfer opportunity, all from people who had been following my posts. Visibility saved my career transition." - Chris, Newsletter Reader

Connect with Nathan

📱 Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn: Nathan Pearce


• Email: people@professionalindependence.com

📬 Join the Community:

• Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper professional resilience strategies


• Share your own visibility breakthrough stories – we'd love to feature them!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

• Leave a review to help other professionals find the show


• Share with a colleague who might benefit from building career resilience


• Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

Remember: Strategic visibility isn't about self-promotion—it's about building resilience before you need it. When uncertainty strikes, being prepared beats being sorry.