Most people start protecting their job when the layoff rumors start. By then the list already exists.
You can't fully control it. Sometimes the whole org gets cut. But you can tilt the odds.
Here's how:
1. Get visible.
Your manager, his manager, neighboring teams / partners, etc. They should all know what you do and why it matters.
2. Be annoying to replace.
Know the product, the data, the systems, the history better than the average person on your team. The goal is for them to say at the very least "we can cut the role, but losing this person hurts."
3. Tie your work to what leadership cares about.
Revenue, client retention, reducing costs, etc. Doing important work isn't enough, the story about why it's important has to be obvious.
4. Build judgment, not just opinions.
"Yes men" get cut. Reflexive contrarians get cut. The person who knows when to push, when to align, and when to drop it gets kept.
5. Be easy to work with.
Being liked won't guarantee safety but being disliked will sink you.
6. Know how retainable you actually are.
Close to current priorities? Expensive relative to output? Can you flex into more important work? The definition of "model employee" shifts the second the business does.
7. Read the company before the company reads you.
Where's the roadmap, the budget pressure, what message is leadership repeating, etc. The closer your work sits to the next chapter, the harder you are to cut.
Remember, you can do all of this and still get cut. I was one of the best producers in my old company's history and still got whacked. You can be a top performer but deemed too expensive or simply in the wrong org/LOB.
But following these steps can increase your odds of survival.
Just a quick note to anyone out there who’s been grinding through a tough chapter lately.
Your story is about to take a beautiful turn.
I’ve been there in the moments where it felt like the plot was stuck, the setbacks kept piling up, and the ending I’d hoped for seemed further away than ever.
But looking back, those hard stretches were usually the setup for something better I couldn’t see coming.
New opportunities, stronger relationships and clearer purpose.
If that’s you right now, keep showing up. Keep doing the work. The page is turning.
The best plot twists aren’t loud.
The best plot twists are quiet, steady, and often arrive right when you’ve proven you can handle the weight of the previous chapters.
Hang in there. Your next chapter is going to be a good one. A legendary one.
What’s one thing you’re holding onto right now that keeps you moving forward? I’d love to hear it. 👇
Whenever you feel alone, just know that God loves you unconditionally and is bigger than any problems you have in your life. Trust God and keep fighting.