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Have you noticed how some folks are "job hugging"? It’s like “tree hugging,” but instead of wrapping arms around a mighty oak, people are clinging tightly to their current role, hoping if they hold on long enough, they won’t get swept up in layoffs, restructuring, or the AI revolution. What is Job Hugging? Job hugging is the act of clinging to one's current role out of fear, uncertainty, or a perceived lack of alternatives. It's a defensive posture where employees remain in positions that may no longer align with their passions or career goals, simply to avoid the perceived risks associated with change. In today's job market, job hugging has become more prevalent due to several factors: Economic Uncertainty: A significant number of workers are concerned about job security. For instance, a survey found that 85% of U.S. workers fear job loss, with many attributing this anxiety to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and automation technologies. (Yahoo Finance) Cool Job Market: Despite a low unemployment rate, hiring has slowed, and job seekers face increasing difficulty finding full-time positions. (Wall Street Journal) Burnout and Disengagement: According to a survey by Skillsoft, 39% of 2,100 global employees surveyed cited burnout and exhaustion as the top challenge they experienced in 2024. (HR Brew) Additionally, Gallup's 2024 report indicates that 62% of employees globally are not engaged at work, often referred to as "quiet quitting," and 15% are actively disengaged, known as "loud quitting." (Gallup) These factors contribute to a culture of job hugging, where employees prioritize perceived job security over personal growth and fulfillment. The Positives of Job Hugging Security blanket: It provides a sense of stability in uncertain times. Short-term relief: Less stress in the moment because you’re not making big moves. The Negatives of Job Hugging Career stagnation: Growth stalls when you grip too tightly. Missed opportunities: By holding on, you might miss out on learning, advancement, or adapting to change. Fear-driven choices: Fear and hope cannot co-exist. When people operate in fear they inhibit their future because fear is the antithesis of hope. Play Offense, Not Defense Fear may be real, but being defensive doesn’t create progress. Instead of clinging to a position, take the offensive. Don’t sit back and wait for AI to take your job. Without the person, the AI doesn't exist. AI doesn’t wake up one day and clock in. It needs a human to direct it. The real question: Do you want to be the person driving AI, or the one hugging their role, hoping luck keeps them safe? So, do you want to be the person who's utilizing the AI efficiently, gaining the respect and loyalty of management or the person hugging onto their job, hoping they somehow win the AI roulette. If you choose to remain stagnant, that’s your decision. But once you make it, own it. Don’t complain about the results of a decision you weren’t willing to change. I spoke with a software engineer who admitted he had been job hugging. Through coaching, he had a moment of clarity: instead of fearing change, he could embrace it. When training began for a new AI system the company was implementing, he became the most engaged participant, asking thoughtful questions, exploring possibilities, and diving in with curiosity. Later, during a one-on-one with his boss, he shared his excitement for AI and the opportunities it could create. That simple shift from fear to enthusiasm transformed what had been a gloomy outlook into a genuinely hopeful and forward-looking perspective. What to Do Instead Rather than job hugging, I recommend you FOCUS: F – Forward-thinking: Look beyond today into the possibilities of tomorrow. O – Open-minded: Embrace learning and be adaptable to new tools. C – Courageous: Step into opportunities instead of shrinking back. U – Up-skill: Add new capabilities, especially in tech and leadership. S – Strategic: Align your actions with where your industry is heading. Job hugging keeps you stuck. FOCUS moves you forward. Fear keeps your hands clinging to what is. Hope opens your hands to what can be. Don’t hug your job so tightly that you miss your future. Instead, FOCUS, take the offense, and write the next chapter of your career.

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Job Hugging Won’t Save You from AI

Have you noticed how some folks are "job hugging"?

It’s like “tree hugging,” but instead of wrapping arms around a mighty oak, people are clinging tightly to their current role, hoping if they hold on long enough, they won’t get swept up in layoffs, restructuring, or the AI revolution.

What is Job Hugging?

Job hugging is the act of clinging to one's current role out of fear, uncertainty, or a perceived lack of alternatives. It's a defensive posture where employees remain in positions that may no longer align with their passions or career goals, simply to avoid the perceived risks associated with change.

In today's job market, job hugging has become more prevalent due to several factors:

  • Economic Uncertainty: A significant number of workers are concerned about job security. For instance, a survey found that 85% of U.S. workers fear job loss, with many attributing this anxiety to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and automation technologies. (Yahoo Finance)
  • Cool Job Market: Despite a low unemployment rate, hiring has slowed, and job seekers face increasing difficulty finding full-time positions. (Wall Street Journal)
  • Burnout and Disengagement: According to a survey by Skillsoft, 39% of 2,100 global employees surveyed cited burnout and exhaustion as the top challenge they experienced in 2024. (HR Brew) Additionally, Gallup's 2024 report indicates that 62% of employees globally are not engaged at work, often referred to as "quiet quitting," and 15% are actively disengaged, known as "loud quitting." (Gallup)

These factors contribute to a culture of job hugging, where employees prioritize perceived job security over personal growth and fulfillment.

The Positives of Job Hugging

  • Security blanket: It provides a sense of stability in uncertain times.
  • Short-term relief: Less stress in the moment because you’re not making big moves.

The Negatives of Job Hugging

  • Career stagnation: Growth stalls when you grip too tightly.
  • Missed opportunities: By holding on, you might miss out on learning, advancement, or adapting to change.
  • Fear-driven choices: Fear and hope cannot co-exist. When people operate in fear they inhibit their future because fear is the antithesis of hope.

Play Offense, Not Defense

Fear may be real, but being defensive doesn’t create progress. Instead of clinging to a position, take the offensive. Don’t sit back and wait for AI to take your job. Without the person, the AI doesn't exist. AI doesn’t wake up one day and clock in. It needs a human to direct it. The real question: Do you want to be the person driving AI, or the one hugging their role, hoping luck keeps them safe?

So, do you want to be the person who's utilizing the AI efficiently, gaining the respect and loyalty of management or the person hugging onto their job, hoping they somehow win the AI roulette. If you choose to remain stagnant, that’s your decision. But once you make it, own it. Don’t complain about the results of a decision you weren’t willing to change.

I spoke with a software engineer who admitted he had been job hugging. Through coaching, he had a moment of clarity: instead of fearing change, he could embrace it. When training began for a new AI system the company was implementing, he became the most engaged participant, asking thoughtful questions, exploring possibilities, and diving in with curiosity. Later, during a one-on-one with his boss, he shared his excitement for AI and the opportunities it could create. That simple shift from fear to enthusiasm transformed what had been a gloomy outlook into a genuinely hopeful and forward-looking perspective.

What to Do Instead

Rather than job hugging, I recommend you FOCUS:

F – Forward-thinking: Look beyond today into the possibilities of tomorrow.

O – Open-minded: Embrace learning and be adaptable to new tools.

C – Courageous: Step into opportunities instead of shrinking back.

U – Up-skill: Add new capabilities, especially in tech and leadership.

S – Strategic: Align your actions with where your industry is heading.

Job hugging keeps you stuck. FOCUS moves you forward.

Fear keeps your hands clinging to what is. Hope opens your hands to what can be. Don’t hug your job so tightly that you miss your future. Instead, FOCUS, take the offense, and write the next chapter of your career.

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