The 3 AM realization: You are a line item
The blue light of your phone illuminates the ceiling at 3 AM while you scroll through another internal memo about 'departmental optimization.' It is a cold, clinical sensation, realizing that the work you poured your soul into—the late nights, the missed dinners, the emotional labor—is being weighed on a scale you didn't even know existed. Much like the blockbuster trade rumors surrounding athletes like Kyler Murray, you realize you are being discussed as a 'piece' rather than a person.
This isn't just a career hurdle; it is a psychological crisis. Feeling like a pawn at work creates a visceral sense of instability that affects your heart rate and your sleep. When you feel like a pawn at work, you are experiencing the sharp edge of corporate indifference, where your future is a chess move made by someone who doesn't even know your middle name. Before we can strategize, we must name the monster: you are currently operating under a crushing weight of external pressure that has hijacked your sense of self.
Identifying Your 'External Locus of Control'
Let’s perform some reality surgery. If you’re feeling like a pawn at work, it’s because you’ve allowed your employer to become the primary narrator of your life story. You’re waiting for them to decide if you’re 'valuable' enough to keep, which is a total abandonment of your locus of control.
Wake up: They didn't 'forget' to include you in the meeting; they prioritized a strategy that didn't require your input. When your self-worth is tied to the whims of a boardroom, you aren't an employee—you're a hostage. To stop feeling like a pawn at work, you have to accept the cold fact that loyalty in a cold market is often a one-way street.
The reality is that the psychological impact of corporate restructuring is designed to make you feel small so you stay compliant. You have permission to stop being 'the good soldier' for a general who doesn't know your face. If you continue to let your autonomy in the workplace be dictated by people who view you as a variable in a spreadsheet, you will never find peace.
The Strategy of the 'Internal Pivot'
To move beyond the harsh reality Vix just laid out, we must transition into high-level strategy. To move from feeling to understanding, we need a framework that treats your career as a personal enterprise rather than a job.
When you are feeling like a pawn at work, the counter-move is the 'Internal Pivot.' This means building portable value that travels with you, regardless of the logo on your paycheck. You must focus on regaining a sense of control at work by identifying your 'Un-Tradeable Assets'—those high-EQ skills and technical masteries that belong to you, not the firm.
Here is your high-EQ script for your next check-in: 'I’ve noticed the recent organizational shifts. I’m focusing my energy on X and Y projects to ensure my contributions remain aligned with the highest-priority outcomes.' This signals that you aren't just reacting to workplace politics; you are managing them. Overcoming feelings of helplessness requires you to stop asking for permission and start announcing your trajectory. If the board wants to move pieces, let them—as long as you’ve already decided where your next square is.
Self-Validation in a Cold Market
Now that we have a plan, let’s take a deep breath and address the bruise on your heart. Shifting from strategy to healing is essential because you cannot execute a plan if your spirit is broken. Feeling like a pawn at work is exhausting, and it’s okay to acknowledge that it hurts to feel expendable.
I want you to look past the metrics and the 'market value' debates. Your worth isn't a stock price that fluctuates with the company's quarterly earnings. Even if you are in the middle of a difficult corporate restructuring, your kindness, your resilience, and your character remain intact.
That feeling of anxiety isn't a sign of weakness; it’s your brave heart wanting to be valued for who you are, not just what you produce. You are not a pawn; you are the architect of your own inner world. Even when the external landscape is shifting, you are a safe harbor for yourself. You've survived every 're-org' life has thrown at you so far, and your courage is the one thing they can never trade away.
FAQ
1. How do I regain a sense of control at work during a merger?
Focus on the 'controllables'—your daily output, your professional network, and your skill development. Shift from an external locus of control to an internal one by setting personal goals that are independent of the company's survival.
2. Why do I feel so much anxiety about feeling like a pawn at work?
This stems from a threat to your basic need for autonomy and security. When workplace politics make your future feel unpredictable, your brain enters a 'fight or flight' state, which is why reclaiming agency through strategy is so important.
3. Is it normal for corporate restructuring to affect my self-esteem?
Absolutely. Many people suffer from the psychological toll of workplace change because our identities are often tied to our professional roles. Separating your inherent value from your job title is the first step in healing.
References
en.wikipedia.org — Wikipedia: Locus of Control
psychologytoday.com — Dealing with Corporate Restructuring