Demoted? Here's What to Do

Faithful on the Clock

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In this episode...

Demoted? Here's What to Do

https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/episode-69-demoted-heres-what-to-do

Demotions are a weird gray area for workers. Do you still have value? Should you leave? In Episode 69, Faithful on the Clock looks at important actions to take when your employer puts you in a lower position.

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:33] - Demotion definition and explanation of the psychological significance

[01:15] - Layoffs aren’t always your fault and can happen due to restructuring, mergers, etc.

[01:50] - The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife shows that people can be wrongfully pushed down from the positions they once held.

[03:05] - A local pastor in my community was demoted from the church he’d helped found.

[04:00] - Neither Joseph nor my community pastor were “done.” They just were starting new journeys.

[05:00] - Don’t quit God during a demotion, especially since the demotion doesn’t remove the skills and talents He gifted to you. Just apply what you have differently.

[05:42] - Demotions require forgiveness, sometimes even of the larger culture indirectly involved. Without that forgiveness, you can get distracted from what God wants you to do and get lost in bitterness.

[06:17] - The story of Apple’s Steve Jobs shows that people’s choices can tie to demotion.

[07:05] - Stories from scripture that show how choice can lead to loss of position include Jacob and Esau and Reuban and his father’s concubine.

[08:12] - You might not have a fairy tale ending and get your position back as Steve Jobs did. But you don’t have to stay stuck. You can take accountability and focus forward.

[09:22] - Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Instead, keep a level head and identify new goals. Consider whether you’ll be happy and what’s most urgent, and take the opportunity to learn and prove you’re still an asset.

[10:50] - Foster relationships well during a demotion. Take accountability and communicate well. Seek mentors who can give your confidence a boost.

[11:55] - Give yourself time to acclimate to your new, lower role. You might find that it’s not as bad as you thought it would be.

[13:11] - Prayer

[14:18] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Demotion can be hard to navigate mentally.
• Demotions aren’t necessarily your fault. They often arise due to mergers, downsizing, etc.
• The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife shows that a demotion might arise through no fault of your own. A pastor in my community was also asked to step down when he’d done nothing wrong–like the Israelites with Moses, the congregation just wasn’t happy with his leadership.
• Joseph and my community pastor didn’t let demotions stop them. They just took new paths on how to help others for God. You don’t have to assume that a demotion means everything is over for you or that you’ve lost the gifts He’s given to you.
• It’s important to forgive where you can during a demotion so you don’t get lost from what God wants you to do.
• Sometimes demotions do happen at fault, as the stories of Steve Jobs, Esau, and Reuban all show. But you are not stuck. You can humble yourself and seek to make positive changes.
• Don’t let your emotions drive you if you are demoted. Think about where God wants you and how you can learn.
• Relationships are important in a demotion situation. Communicate openly and seek to foster good relationships in your new role. Find new mentors who can rebuild your confidence.
• Give yourself some time to acclimate to your new role. It might be that you end up enjoying it more than you thought you would. Reassess after a few weeks or months.

• 27 Years Ago Steve Jobs Explained How He Fired People. Here's How He Did It
• Genesis: Why Did Reuben Have Sex with His Step-Mother?
• What If Your Demotion Is Actually Promotion?
• John Sculley Tells The Real Story of Steve Jobs' 'Firing'

CTAs:

• Have an open discussion with your management about how the company is doing and what kind of things they would consider worthy of demotion.
• Look at your previous performance reviews for at least the past three years. Identify three areas that put you at risk and three areas that you could build on to hedge yourself from a demotion.
• Find someone who has gone through a demotion. Talk to them about their experience and discover what they learned.

What’s coming up next:

Craftsmanship and quality connect closely to worker mental health and the ability of a company to last over the long haul. In Episode 70 of Faithful on the Clock, learn how consumerism is driving a deemphasis on these points and what you can do to fight back.

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