“Everybody’s replaceable.”
That’s the headline from a recent Wall Street Journal piece and it reflects a real shift in tone at the top. Here are some quotes from senior executives:
“Work-life balance is your problem.” — Emma Grede, CEO of Good American
“Step it up.” — Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol
“I’ve had it with this kind of stuff.” — Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase
“AI is coming for your jobs… this is a wake-up call.” — Micha Kaufman, CEO of Fiverr
Leaders aren’t sugarcoating anymore. Many believe the talent shortage is over, and the power is back in their hands.
If you’re early in your career, this can feel brutal. You’re doing your best to find your footing—and now the message seems to be: Be perfect, be quiet, and be grateful you’re still here.
So, what do you do when you’re trying to grow your career, but the tone from leadership sounds like “shape up or ship out”?
You learn the rules of the game. And you play them smart.
Here are 3 things you can do right now to cement your value—and protect your job
- Show that you know how your role connects to the business.
Instead of just executing tasks, learn why they matter. What is your team measured on? How does your work impact revenue, efficiency, customer experience, or risk? If you’re not sure, ask. Being curious about business goals makes you stand out.
- Get visible in the right ways.
Visibility isn’t about bragging. It’s about keeping people informed of your progress and impact. That could mean sending a short update after completing a project, offering to present a small section in a meeting, or following up with a “just wanted to close the loop” email. In a climate of layoffs, the people who stay tend to be the ones people remember.
- Build a reputation for reliability.
This sounds basic, but it’s huge. Be on time. Meet deadlines. Flag problems early. Don’t ghost on Slack. The less people have to worry about you, the more likely they are to advocate for you.
It’s a hard moment to be new to the workforce—especially when the message from the top is cold.
It feels awful, but it is real.
And if you understand how the system works, you’re already ahead of the game.
