It’s no secret that work is more uncertain than ever. You may spend each day worrying, “Will I be let go?” even if you’re a top performer. There’s a term for this: layoff anxiety. In this episode, Melody breaks down how to manage constant stress about your job security without letting it consume you or hurt your performance. What You’ll Discover:<ul><li>Why 58% of companies plan layoffs in 2026 and how these cuts are different from previous years</li><li>How to separate real layoff warning signs from anxiety-driven overthinking</li><li>Specific questions you can ask your manager to gauge job security without sounding paranoid</li><li>What leadership actually looks for when making difficult staffing decisions</li></ul><a href='https:// melodywilding.com/training'>https:// melodywilding.com/training</a>Connect with Melody: <ol> <li><a href='https://melodywilding.com/sayno'>FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work</a></li> <li><a href='https://melodywilding.com/newsletter'>FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly</a></li> <li><a href='https://speaklikeaseniorleader.com'>Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist</a></li> <li><a href='https://linkedin.com/in/melodywilding'>Follow Melody on LinkedIn</a></li> <li><a href='https://instagram.com/melodywilding'>Follow Melody on Instagram </a></li> <li><a href='https://managingup.com/'>Get Melody's new book, Managing Up</a></li> </ol>

It’s no secret that work is more uncertain than ever. You may spend each day worrying, “Will I be let go?” even if you’re a top performer. There’s a term for this: layoff anxiety. In this episode, Melody breaks down how to manage constant stress about your job security without letting it consume you or hurt your performance. What You’ll Discover:Why 58% of companies plan layoffs in 2026 and how these cuts are different from previous yearsHow to separate real layoff warning signs from anxiety-driven overthinkingSpecific questions you can ask your manager to gauge job security without sounding paranoidWhat leadership actually looks for when making difficult staffing decisionshttps:// melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist Follow Melody on LinkedIn Follow Melody on Instagram Get Melody's new book, Managing Up

It’s no secret that work is more uncertain than ever. You may spend each day worrying, “Will I be let go?” even if you’re a top performer. There’s a term for this: layoff anxiety. In this episode, Melody breaks down how to manage constant stress about your job security without letting it consume you or hurt your performance.&nbsp;What You’ll Discover:<ul><li>Why 58% of companies plan layoffs in 2026 and how these cuts are different from previous years</li><li>How to separate real layoff warning signs from anxiety-driven overthinking</li><li>Specific questions you can ask your manager to gauge job security without sounding paranoid</li><li>What leadership actually looks for when making difficult staffing decisions</li></ul><a rel="noopener noreferrer">https:// melodywilding.com/training</a>Connect with Melody: <ol> <li><a href="https://melodywilding.com/sayno" rel="noopener noreferrer">FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work</a></li> <li><a href="https://melodywilding.com/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer">FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly</a></li> <li><a href="https://speaklikeaseniorleader.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist</a></li> <li><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/melodywilding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Follow Melody on LinkedIn</a></li> <li><a href="https://instagram.com/melodywilding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Follow Melody on Instagram </a></li> <li><a href="https://managingup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get Melody's new book, Managing Up</a></li> </ol>

67. Layoff Anxiety

Have you ever felt like you're the only one struggling with self-doubt at work? Maybe you’ve wondered why office politics seem so complicated or how some people seem to influence so effortlessly?&nbsp; The secret is that every day at work, we're surrounded by psychological dynamics - internal and external. There's the voice in our head second-guessing our decisions, the subtle power plays in meetings, the unspoken expectations that shape our behavior and others. Yet most of us are dropped into our careers with zero insight into these invisible forces. That changes today. Welcome to Psychology at Work. I’m your host Melody Wilding, licensed social worker, human behavior professor, and author of two books: Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work and Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge. With a background as an emotion researcher, therapist, and after over 13 years of coaching thousands of executives and leaders across the world, there’s nothing I love more than helping emotionally intelligent people like you use superpower to make work better for themselves and everyone around them.&nbsp; Because here’s the thing, technical skills will only get you so far in your career. It's mastering your own psychology and understanding that of others that will truly make or break your success. While your coding skills might land you a job, it's your ability to manage stress and stay focused under pressure that will help you meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality work. Your financial acumen might get you noticed, but it's your ability to navigate stakeholder relationships and office politics that will help you secure buy-in for your ideas. Your strategic thinking might earn you a promotion, but it's your self-awareness and ability to regulate your emotions that will make you an effective leader people want to follow. The title of this show is a playful nod to our double focus. First, we explore how psychology operates in professional settings. But second, in each episode you’re going to walk away with practical insights that you can put to work right away.&nbsp; I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate the workplace when you're sensitive, empathetic, and prone to overthinking. That's why I created this podcast that brings you the tools and insights I wish I'd had earlier in my career. Get ready, because you’re going to learn how to master the ‘silent rules’ of human behavior so you can achieve career success without sacrificing inner peace.

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Have you ever felt like you're the only one struggling with self-doubt at work? Maybe you’ve wondered why office politics seem so complicated or how some people seem to influence so effortlessly?  The secret is that every day at work, we're surrounded by psychological dynamics - internal and external. There's the voice in our head second-guessing our decisions, the subtle power plays in meetings, the unspoken expectations that shape our behavior and others. Yet most of us are dropped into our careers with zero insight into these invisible forces. That changes today. Welcome to Psychology at Work. I’m your host Melody Wilding, licensed social worker, human behavior professor, and author of two books: Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work and Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge. With a background as an emotion researcher, therapist, and after over 13 years of coaching thousands of executives and leaders across the world, there’s nothing I love more than helping emotionally intelligent people like you use superpower to make work better for themselves and everyone around them.  Because here’s the thing, technical skills will only get you so far in your career. It's mastering your own psychology and understanding that of others that will truly make or break your success. While your coding skills might land you a job, it's your ability to manage stress and stay focused under pressure that will help you meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality work. Your financial acumen might get you noticed, but it's your ability to navigate stakeholder relationships and office politics that will help you secure buy-in for your ideas. Your strategic thinking might earn you a promotion, but it's your self-awareness and ability to regulate your emotions that will make you an effective leader people want to follow. The title of this show is a playful nod to our double focus. First, we explore how psychology operates in professional settings. But second, in each episode you’re going to walk away with practical insights that you can put to work right away.  I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate the workplace when you're sensitive, empathetic, and prone to overthinking. That's why I created this podcast that brings you the tools and insights I wish I'd had earlier in my career. Get ready, because you’re going to learn how to master the ‘silent rules’ of human behavior so you can achieve career success without sacrificing inner peace.

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