With the challenges in our economy and an ever-growing list of layoffs, many people are understandably worried about the stability of their careers.  The question on many minds is “Will I still have a job when I go in tomorrow?”  Even for those who don’t see an immediate threat, the underlying stress caused by an unstable professional future can lead to emotional and physical strain.

One of the most important concepts to understand is a basic equation that governs the profitability of an employee to a company: If the value of what you bring to the company is greater than your cost to the organization, they will keep you around.  It may seem overly simplistic, but it really comes down to a simple math calculation.  A company hires employees to handle functions that bring in revenue, either directly or indirectly.  As long as you can continue to be a revenue-creator, as opposed to a drain on revenue, you’ll have a job. 

It’s easier to see this process when a company is new and expanding than when it’s already large and established.  For an entrepreneur who has been running everything on their own, for example, employees are a way to expand the reach and scope of the company.  The thinking is “If I can bring on a marketing director/accountant/operations manager/etc. we can do more business and grow.”  They weigh the expense of a new employee (which not only includes salary, but costs such as benefits, offices expenses, etc.) versus what that employee can bring to the company.

There are some factors out of your control that might dictate whether you keep your job, e.g., if the company is bankrupt, you’re pretty much out of luck.  In general, however, if you can bring more profits the company, it’s good business sense to keep you around.

So the real question to ask yourself is this: “How do I ensure that I continue to bring more value to my employer then they pay me?”  How can you be so valuable that they would never think of letting you go.  Here are some ideas on how to increase the value of your work:

1. Do superb work.  It might seem obvious, but this is a fantastic time to make sure that you are doing good, solid work.  If you have any fear about your position, leave it at home and make sure to bring your “A Game” every day.  It’s easy to let performance slip when the organization is going through tough times, which only compounds the negative spiral.  When the environment gets negative, will you complain with your colleagues, or will you refocus your efforts on your work? 

2. Increase the value of your hour.  It’s not about having to work 80 hours a week.  It’s about making sure all your work hours are very productive.  During the course of a day, are you doing the most important activities?  This isn’t the time to get stuck in activity for activity’s sake – look at the results you get from your time, and look to increase them.

3. Enhance your attitude.  It’s also a great idea to bring your most professional, positive attitude right now.  In general, we don’t like being around negative, grumpy people, so even if there’s a lot of stress at your company, now isn’t the time to grumble about it around the water cooler.  All things being equal, employers think more highly of positive employees. 

4. Keep learning.  For many people in professional positions, the amount of value they can bring to an employer is dependent on their capacity for “knowledge work”.  Therefore to increase their value, they need to increase their capacity.  Be sure to focus on your professional development, whether that means reading about topics in your industry, going to outside seminars, or finding a mentor.  The more you know, the more valuable you become.

5. Let people know of your value.  Not only is it important to bring value to your organization, but it’s important that your colleagues and superiors understand your value.  Now is not the time to be shy about your accomplishments.  This doesn’t mean that you have to become an obnoxious braggart or take credit for something that you didn’t do.  It means not being bashful – let those around you know what you bring to the table and why you are valuable to the company.