confidence

Overcoming Job Insecurity: 5 Strategies to Create Job Security

/ Denis Baker / Leave a comment

“Oh man, I am so insecure in my job that I am going to look for another one.”

Well, that has been the story of my career more times than I’d like to admit. I would give myself fully to a role. I showed up early and stayed late, pouring my energy into the work. Then, one day, I found myself packing a box and walking out the door. It wasn’t because of my performance. It was because of circumstances beyond my control. Each time it happened, it left a mark.

Most recently, I was laid off yet again. I sat in the quiet of my living room. I stared at the walls and let the questions flood in. How many more times can I start over? What will it take to finally land somewhere I can stay long enough to feel at peace? How can I make sure that the next job brings me happiness? How do I find a job that carries me all the way to retirement?

Those thoughts weighed on me heavily than before. I realized that time slips by when you’re constantly starting over. I wasn’t just thinking about a paycheck anymore. I was thinking about stability. I thought about meaning. I was considering a career that felt like home.

And for the first time, I began to see that the search wasn’t only for a job. It was for something more profound. It was a place where I could bring the best of myself and be valued for it. It was a place where I could stop bracing for the next layoff and start building a legacy.

Whether you’re managing a team, starting a business, or simply aiming to grow personally, insecurity can affect you. It can quietly undermine your ability to lead. It manifests as hesitation, overthinking, or a reluctance to seize opportunities. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to eliminate to lead—you need tools to rise above it.

Explaining Why Job Insecurity Happens

If your goal is to help people understand the reality of job insecurity, you can frame it like this:

The Changing Economy: Companies restructure, merge, or cut costs. Even good employees can lose jobs due to forces beyond their control.

Shifting Skill Demands: Technology changes fast. Skills that were valuable yesterday may not be tomorrow.

Shorter Job Tenures: Unlike past generations, staying with one company for 20 years or more is rare. Layoffs, contract work, and career shifts are common.

Job insecurity isn’t always about you—it’s about the system we work in. – Denis Baker

I sat and thought deeply. I came up with five powerful strategies to help you lead with greater confidence. These strategies are useful even when self-doubt lingers in the background. Let me share these with you.

1. Know Your Strengths

One of the fastest ways to combat insecurity is to recognize your value. Too often, we focus on what we lack instead of what we bring to the table. Shift your perspective.

  • Take inventory of your past wins—big or small.
  • Ask yourself, What do people consistently thank me for?
  • Identify your unique combination of talents, experiences, and insights.

Keep this list visible. Read it often. Confidence is easier to access when you remember who you are.

“You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” – Louise Hay

2. Re-frame Negative Thoughts

Our inner critic often speaks in absolutes:

“You’re not good enough.” “You’re going to fail.” “They’ll see right through you.”

It’s time to challenge that voice.

  • Replace “I’m not good at this” with “I’m still learning.”
  • Instead of “What if I fail?”, ask “What if this works out better than I imagined?”

Cognitive re-framing is a mental muscle. The more you practice, the more naturally you’ll shift from self-doubt to self-support.

3. Take Decisive Action

Insecurity loves delay. It thrives on overthinking, perfectionism, and procrastination. But leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up and making progress.

  • Make decisions, even if you’re unsure.
  • Take one small action instead of waiting for the “perfect” time.
  • Trust your ability to adjust along the way.

Action builds confidence because it gives you evidence that you’re capable.

4. Seek Constructive Feedback

Many leaders avoid feedback out of fear that it will confirm their worst doubts. But when approached with curiosity—not ego—feedback becomes a tool for growth, not judgment.

  • Ask for feedback from trusted sources who want to see you succeed.
  • Frame your ask: “What’s one thing I could improve to be more effective?”
  • Accept it with an open mind, not defensiveness.

When you learn from feedback instead of fearing it, insecurity loses its grip.

5. Lead with Authenticity

You don’t need to be the loudest, most extroverted, or most flawless person in the room to lead effectively. You need to be you—fully and unapologetically.

  • Share your values, your story, and your vision.
  • Own your imperfections without shame.
  • Be the kind of leader who connects, not just directs.

Authenticity is magnetic. When you lead with vulnerability and honesty, you allow others to do the same—and that creates real impact.

Don’t chase “security” in a job—create it within yourself by always being ready for change. – Denis Baker

Final Thoughts: Confidence is Built, Not Born 🌱

Insecurity doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It means you care. The key is not to eliminate insecurity, but to lead anyway—with tools, self-awareness, and the courage to keep showing up. We don’t become confident overnight. Day by day, you can become the kind of leader who trusts their own voice. Choice by choice, you empower others to do the same.

“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” – Peter T. McIntyre.

Looking back now, I see that every layoff and every uncertain moment were shaping me for a bigger truth. The only absolute security comes from within. Titles change. Companies downsize. Circumstances shift. What remains is the character you build, the skills you carry, and the resilience you refuse to let go of.

I may never be able to guarantee a job that lasts until retirement. But I can guarantee the way I show up. I can guarantee the way I adapt and the way I continue to grow. And maybe that’s the kind of security I was meant to find all along.

I hope that all of you who read this blog understand what was shared. I also hope you know how to think and act accordingly. Enjoy your career and be positive and successful!

Denis Baker is an accomplished leadership professional with more than twenty-five years of experience. Known for his adaptability in diverse industries and cultures, he builds sustainable systems. He does this by influencing employee behavior and transforming organizational culture. He is an Executive certified consultant, coach, trainer, and keynote speaker. He works with the John Maxwell organization. Additionally, he is a certified DISC Behavioral Coach. As an author, Denis shares practical frameworks for leading with character. He creates a lasting impact, most notably through his work on the five stages of leader influence.
Contact: dbaker@leaderinfluence.net

How to Succeed in Effective Communication

/ Denis Baker / 1 Comment

“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” 

– George Bernard Shaw

Have you ever discussed something intended to be formal and set direction to your team or colleagues only to learn that no one can remember what you said or where they need to go? Unfortunately, this occurs many times when I talk or write.

It’s impossible to be an effective leader without learning how to be an effective communicator. I have learned that those who can communicate become the most influential leaders.

The good thing is we can all grow in our communication capabilities. 

Here are seven (7) standards for effective communication. These standards are realistically practical both in personal and professional communication.

1. Understand who you’re talking to – know who you are talking to, their concerns or interests, and what approach will result in effective communication.

CONSIDER: Who am I talking to, and what do they need or want to know?

2. Be Clear and Concise in Your Message – Be crystal clear and concise about your message. Everything you say or write should support your message. 

CONSIDER: What is it that I need to communicate?

3. Be Sure You Know What You Want To Accomplish Out of Your Conversation – When you speak or write, know what results you want to accomplish. If you don’t know what you want, they probably won’t either. If you don’t say it, you can’t expect them to guess accurately.

CONSIDER: What is the single most crucial outcome needed to accomplish with this message?

4. Actively Listen – Active listening keeps you engaged with your conversation positively. Active listening is the process of listening attentively while someone else speaks, paraphrases, and even reflecting on what is said without holding judgment and advice. When you practice active listening, you make the other person feel valued. Thus, active listening is the foundation for any successful conversation.

CONSIDER: Do I understand what they are saying and why? 

5. Cultivate Your Confidence. – Confidence is a combination of belief, ability, action, and humility. Suppose you believe in yourself – practice. If you lack the ability – ask for help. If you lack action – create accountability. If you lack humility–realize you don’t know what you don’t know.

CONSIDER: Which is my most important area of growth right now: belief, ability, action, or humility?

6. Have A Clear and Concise Outcome Expectation – What do you want a listener or reader to do with what you’ve said? Tell them. People are more likely to act when you’ve made the right action obvious.

CONSIDER: What response do I want from this audience?

7. Communicate Often – They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But most of the time, people forget. Repeat important messages regularly. Don’t assume you only have to say something once.

CONSIDER: What different methods or approaches can I use to repeat or reinforce my message?

Great communicators choose their words well, understand their audience, and connect with them at the right time and place. By applying these tips and practicing, you can master the skills and learn to be an effective communicator.

By following these 7 standards you will become a Great Communicator!

Denis is an Executive Director at the John Maxwell Group, is a certified leadership coach, trainer, keynote speaker, and DISC Behavior, Consultant. Denis is currently the Director of Health & Safety for Ferguson Enterprises. He is a passionate person of influence committed to teaching and communicating practical and relevant influencing techniques.  His unique, passionate, and emotionally driven style resonates with many who desire to become influential leaders. 

You can contact Denis at dbaker@leaderinfluence.net for information on coaching, leadership, team and culture training, DISC Behavioral consulting, or to be an inspirational speaker at your next event.