Psychologist Roman Braun explains how you can deal with your fear of your job and how a climate of uncertainty affects you.
Job security Keyword: Does it even exist, Mr. Braun?
Roman Braun: The term “job security” in the traditional sense – that is, staying with one employer for life – is indeed outdated. Let’s take the banking sector: 30 years ago, a job in a bank was considered secure for life. Today we are undergoing a massive restructuring, branch closures and the use of online banking technologies. Instead, we talk about “job security” – the ability to always find employment in a changing labor market.
According to a recent Acredia survey, almost half believe that AI is a threat to their job. What do you think: What impact will digitization have? The fear of AI is often exaggerated, but it is not entirely unfounded. In medical diagnostics, for example, AI can detect certain types of cancer on X-ray images more accurately than human radiologists. Will this make radiologists redundant? Not at all. Instead, their role will change: They will interpret AI results, assess complex cases and ensure the human component in patient care.
What are the other influencing factors? In addition to technological developments, world events play a role. The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated this brilliantly: while the travel industry suffered huge cuts, e-commerce boomed. Companies like Zoom have experienced an unexpected boom. This shows how important it is to develop cross-industry skills.
Why can it be a problem for companies when job security is considered at risk? Imagine the following scenario: A software company is planning a major restructuring. The rumor mill is churning, but management is not communicating clearly. The result: the top performers start looking for other jobs. Productivity drops and projects are delayed. In the end, the company will not only lose valuable employees, but also market share to the competition.
What can managers do to combat this? PwC’s digital further training program is an exemplary initiative in this area. The company invests heavily in the digital training of its employees, from basics such as data analysis to advanced AI applications. This shows employees: We are making you fit for the future and strengthens the feeling of job security.
On a psychological level: How can you as an employee fight fear about your job? This would be a reframing of the NLP approach. Instead of thinking: “AI will take over my job”, the attitude can be changed: “How can I use AI to make my work more efficient?” For a sales representative, this could mean using AI tools to better understand customer needs to increase their sales success.
How can employees really increase their job security? An accountant recognizes the trend towards automation in his field. She begins training in data analysis and visualization tools such as Tableau. At the same time, she is working on her communication skills. In this way, she positions herself as a financial analyst who not only processes numbers but also provides strategic insights.