A Different Kind of Job Security

Many jobs depend on an on-going need for services, or “job security”, in order for the business to be successful. Retail workers want customers to keep needing food, clothing, furniture, vehicles, etc. so that the doors of the establishment can remain open and workers can keep their jobs. People in the cleaning industry rely on the reality that when people are around, messes will continue to happen. Entertainment venues expect that people will continue to crave an opportunity to play, watch movies, or get together with others to have a good time away from home. Even doctors and insurance companies know that people will continue to get hurt or sick, and will need them to help restore them to good health.

As parents, that kind of “job security” typically isn’t the best policy. When our work is focused on equipping our children with the skills and opportunities to function independently and interdependently (not depending only on us), we eliminate the “security” in our jobs. Parenting is designed to evolve and change over time. We go from providing almost all of the care that our children need as infants, to providing other types of support, perhaps more infrequently or even “hands-off,” when they are adults.

As a coach, I am also seeking to equip my students (employees, parents, children, etc.) with the skills they need to function on their own. Whether it’s meeting employer expectations so they can keep their jobs, developing empathy and conversation skills to build and maintain friendships, or learning to manage difficult behaviors effectively at home or in the classroom, eventually I hope and expect that my students will no longer need my services on a consistent basis.

What are the benefits to helping people succeed on their own? Instead of continuing to do the same thing, we are able to move on to other things. Parents may move on to the freedoms associated with being “empty nesters” or enjoying retirement. Teachers and coaches can move on to the “next thing,” whether it’s the next student, or the next opportunity. This kind of “job security” involves change, adventure, and the satisfaction of knowing that someone has been successful in part because of our efforts.

This concludes a three week series on job security. I hope you’ll take a moment to consider where job security is present in your life in healthy ways, how you might ensure that you don’t cause unnecessary job security for others, and how you might equip other people to be successful so that they no longer need your presence or services in the same way that they did in the past.