Aline Noizet

To decide what's next in your career after a layoff, * Define priorities for your next job with a 3 column checklist: 1. must have (can't move forward without that) 2. willing to compromise 3. won't accept * Make an extensive list of companies you would like to work for based on their values and check if you have contacts in those organisations. * Work on your personal business model canvas. It will help you lay down the value you can bring to different profile of clients, you strengths and the potential skills you would like to improve (and training you may pursue to achieve them) * Network, go to event and reconnect with people, be open minded.

Acknowledging burnout is the first step, then put in place an action plan: 1. Work with your client to identify the root cause of the burnout and why it happened. If it's over workload for instance, work on an assessment of the situation with your clients and concrete action plan to fix the issue. Burnout can be linked to relationship. Personality traits can be triggered by specific people. Identify them! And teach your client how to recognise them and address them with special techniques. 2. In some cases, resigning or moving from a job that is causing burnout is the best solution. It't ok. Help your client close this chapter, transition smoothly from the current role and prepare for what is next.

If workload is overwhelming, assess the situation: 1. Is it a new role? 2. Role is not new but the workload has been increasing those past months/weeks. Make a list of the different projects, tasks and subtasks with associated deadlines. Identify where potential blockers are, where you could need help and where you think you should focus your energy based on your strengths and the defined priorities. Also assess the quality of what you are producing and the time you currently dedicating to the different tasks. Once this assessment is clear and you have drawn conclusions, you should have a discussion with your boss with a clear game plan(s) to change things for better. Being open and addressing the issue is important.

Not everybody will understand your innovative idea and that’s ok! Look for the people that see it! If you can’t find investors that back up your idea, don’t give up! Talk to more investors that will get excited, expend your reach to other types of investors. It may take a bit longer but better to wait a bit than settle with the wrong investors. Find like minded people that want to accompany you on that journey. It means that you may have to travel or move to places where the right partners are present or active. Keep an open and critical mind, listen to feedback but if you believe in your innovation, don’t give up and look for your allies wherever they are.

Kodak is a good example on how to handle industry’s disruption. Always keep an eye on the latest trends in your industry and in other industry that will impact yours eventually. Incorporate those innovations in your product pipeline. Always monitor and anticipate the market and your customers. What do they want? What are they ready to pay for? Focus on the correct business model. Move on with the market. Disrupt your own product lines, don’t stay behind, keeping the customers and buyers in mind.

Offer value to your customers! Who are you target customers? What are their pains and needs and how can you help them? Designing your personal business model canvas will help you map out not just your potential clients but especially the value you can bring to each of them and have a strong argumentary when approaching them. Start by approaching people you know from past jobs and especially those who know how you work. Update your LinkedIn and build a portfolio (or webpage) showing your skills and experiences proving that you can deliver that value. Take care of the projects you get! When happy, clients can become repeat clients and recommend you to others. Underpromise and overdeliver… Amazon style! Helps with positioning.