This week both Microsoft and Amazon announced massive layoffs. This is never easy. It can feel soul crushing for those laid off and painful for those still with the company to see incredibly talented and capable colleagues being forced back into the position of having to find a job.
As I have read posts on LinkedIn from those let go, I’ve noticed a cool pattern, but first a quick detour.
Psychology defines cognitive fusion as the fusion between what you think and who you think you are.
This came to life for me when I realized how easy it is to wrap up my own “value” or “worth” in the work that I do or job that I have. A substantial portion of my days are spent at Microsoft working and it is easy for me to think that the impact I have at work (and what is recognized at work) is part of who I am. This is an example of cognitive fusion. It can be easy to fuse together the idea that my job and work product reflects who I am.
This is simply not true – those who can adeptly separate the two (both those laid off and those who have not been laid off) will have a significantly better experience during times of uncertainty. It is because they can see their value and worth is so much more than what the “company” validates.
The pattern I have seen from friends and colleagues has been that of confidence and optimism amid what can feel debilitating. You have seen them too; they are sharing who they are and what makes them great in the world. Experience and work product then becomes evidence of who they are but not the basis for who they are.
Your job does not determine your value.
Do you fall into the trap of cognitive fusion? If you do, try this out – take 3 minutes right now and jot down a few thoughts on who you believe you are. What did you find? Are there assumptions being made that you haven’t tested? Is your job playing a prominent role in describing who you are?
The first step to breaking the cognitive fusion is to recognize it is even happening in the first place and then go experiment on what you find.
I am still learning so please share with me your learnings as you experiment.
