Knowing when to walk away from a job is not always obvious.
In fact, making this decision can be nerve-racking, stressful and overwhelming. You never want to feel like you're making the wrong choice. That said, it's crucial for your long-term well-being and career growth to put yourself first and make the decision that will set you up for sustainable success.
This is particularly important when you find yourself in a job that is no longer serving your best interests, whether that means limiting your potential, compromising your health or bringing on too much negativity.
The actions you take (or do not take) today will directly impact your trajectory, for better or for worse.
β Perhaps leaving your company altogether will be the right move.
ββ Perhaps staying in your company, but moving into a new department, is ideal.
ββ Perhaps making a complete pivot is something you crave.
Regardless of where you find yourself right now, the best thing you can do is to have options available.
You owe it to yourself to take a hard look at what it is you want, what you feel you're lacking and what changes need to happen to position you for the most success. Settling for less is never the answer.
Here's how you can go about it.
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Key consideration factors
Leaving your job when things grow challenging is not your only answer.
Oftentimes, there's actually internal, low-hanging fruit opportunities that could dramatically improve your situation and allow you to take better control of your success.
- For example: Improving communication with a challenging boss, sharing your goals explicitly and the support you need to achieve them, or becoming vocal about what you're missing to feel most motivated, are but a few scenarios that have helped my clients do complete turnarounds and fast-track their growth in companies they were initially ready to quit.
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That said, it will not always play out this way. And when you're in the thick of it, it becomes harder to determine your next best move. So here's 5 consideration factors to reflect on:
β Assess your needs: Evaluate your distinct skills and contributions to your company and understand that your value is not static. Are there areas in which you can adapt to that would allow for greater fulfillment and motivation? Would joining a different team meet your needs better? Do you feel overloaded, which is preventing you from focusing on more strategic work?
β Focus on long-term growth: While short-term gains are important, prioritizing your longer-term career goals and determining whether your current situation is potentially impeding those objectives is key. Recognize that some sacrifices now may lead to greater rewards later.
β Seek opportunities, not security: Instead of chasing job security, seek opportunities that challenge and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Be selfish in your needs and take the needed action to be part of an environment that respects and values you. You always deserve that.
β Network strategically: Surround yourself with the right people, especially those who lift you up and want what's best for you. The power of connections is real and this is your most important currency when faced with adversity and challenges at work.
β Trust your instincts: When a job no longer aligns with your aspirations, or you feel disconnected from the work you do, this is your sign to take action. Waiting around for things to change on their own rarely works. Instead, be the change you need to see for yourself.
5 ways to decide if you should stay or leave
1/ Review your job satisfaction
Chances are you feel disillusioned if you're actively considering leaving your current job. The key is to identify where your dissatisfaction originates from. Otherwise, you run the risk of repeated disappointments as you step into your next role somewhere else.
A new job does not necessarily fix an old wound. This is where self-awareness is of the utmost importance.
β Are you still passionate about your work or has it become monotonous and unfulfilling?
β Are you feeling that things you previously enjoyed no longer serve that same purpose?
β Are you dealing with toxicity that is blocking your growth potential?
β Are there areas of your work you'd like greater exposure to but have been limited in accessing them?
β Is your lack of enthusiasm recent or has it been ongoing for months at a time?
β Is your dissatisfaction rooted in your relationships with others or the nature of your work?
Pro tip: From here, create a 2-column chart. In the left hand column, mark down all of the things you want more of in your work and career. This can include things that make you happy, motivated and energized. In the right hand column, mark down all of the things you want less of, feel you are missing, or that you want to remove entirely.
This listing will now serve as your 'non-negotiables' to inform your decision-making on how you proceed. It's also worth noting that some of these may be salvageable in your current workplace whereas others may clearly require a new environment in order for you to thrive.
For example, if you're dealing with toxic leadership that is affecting all departments, this is more engrained in the company culture and will be harder to shift. Whereas, if you're struggling with a difficult boss, there's many ways you can turn that around to get in the driver's seat of your career.
[My Toxic Boss Bootcamp course is filled with practical guidance, scripts and role plays to help you out]
2/ Outline opportunities for growth
Here's some guiding questions to assess:
β Are you learning new skills and gaining valuable experience, or have you hit a career plateau?
β Do you feel supported in your growth goals or stuck in that regard?
β Do you see internal movement for others in a direction you would like for yourself?
β What feedback have you received regarding your career goals internally?
β Are you faced with toxicity enabled by your management team?
β Have you felt undervalued in the work you do vs. the outcomes you have yet to achieve?
β Is this an organization you still want to grow with?
Perhaps for you, a lack of growth within a reasonable timeline - in learning, skills, team management, compensation or influence - will spark a desire to consider a change that unlocks your full potential.
You know yourself best so lean into that because every day counts.
3/ Protect your work-life balance
Be honest with yourself as you review your surroundings. You can identify which problems are deeply rooted in your company's culture vs. those that can be improved upon with effective communication.
For example:
β Are you constantly stressed and overworked?
β Are you feeling a huge weight on your shoulders?
β Are you expected to take on the roles of multiple employees due to internal team changes?
β Has your relationships outside of work taken a hit?
β Do you feel drained and demotivated consistently?
β Are you faced with unreasonable deadlines with little understanding or support from your boss?
β Have you lost interest in activities that previously brought you happiness?
The decision to stay or walk away from a role may lie in a combination of these factors or a singular one. That said, you don't want to sacrifice your mental health at the expense of an unfulfilling job solely on the basis of your need to put on a brave face.
Create a pathway towards work-life balance by setting boundaries, speaking up regarding your needs and prioritizing self-care above all else. If you're unable to show up as your best self in your personal life, there's no way you'll be able to do so professionally.
[Check out my recent newsletter on How to prevent and overcome burnout]
4/ Assess your financial security
You should never feel trapped in a role for money. We all have financial obligations to meet, but don't discount the opportunity cost of staying in a role that prevents you from becoming who you're meant to be.
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A job that's actively working against your goals, suppressing your values and eroding your physical and mental wellbeing is far too great of a cost in your life. So ask yourself:
β How can I leverage my current financial situation for a brighter future? Take a closer look at your income, savings, debts, and monthly expenses to prepare for a potential transition.
β Do I have a safety net to leave my current job without undue hardship? Aim to save enough to cover at least 3-6 months of living expenses to ensure you are well protected.
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β Can I secure another job before quitting? Is the current role unbearable to the extent of needing to exit immediately or can I explore new opportunities while continuing to deliver on my day-to-day responsibilities?
β Does my current job actually provide the necessary financial stability, or freedom, I seek in my long-term financial goals?
β Am I underpaid for the work that I do? Have I assessed what others earn for the same role in my industry, geography, function, etc.? Does my company recognize and value my contributions financially?
These are but a few considerations to reflect upon that will point you in the right direction.
5/ Respect yourself and your values
Instrumental and terminal values are concepts from ethics and social psychology that provide insight into what people strive to achieve (terminal values) and the means or behaviours they consider important to reach those outcomes (instrumental values).
For example:
- Instrumental values (guiding principles): honesty, hard work, integrity, logical, helpful, etc.
- Terminal values (meaningful objectives): a comfortable and prosperous life, equality, pleasure, financial freedom, peace, a sense of accomplishment, safety and security, etc.
The purpose of identifying your instrumental and terminal values is to help you make aligned and meaningful choices. Recognize that these values evolve and change over time as you gain new experiences, insights and achieve different life milestones.
Seek environments, companies and teams that align with both types of values to bring out your best self.
β Does your current job feel like a natural extension of who you are?
β Does it make you better or worse?
β Does it serve as a springboard for where you want to go next and is in line with your values?
β If you reflect on the roles of your senior leadership, can you envision yourself there?
β Which of your core values are missing the mark in your current role? Which are being met?
What decision will you make?
Deciding when to walk away from a job that no longer serves your best interests is a pivotal moment in your career. By considering the strategies shared above, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term goals, wellbeing and values.
You've got this!
PS. If you've been struggling with this and need some guidance to feel confident in your next move, I can help. Simply respond back to this newsletter.
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This week's mission will help you gain clarity on whether you should stay or leave your current job. Dedicate uninterrupted time to answering the questions below and leverage these reflections in your decision-making criteria.
1/ Reflect on your current job:
- Review your job satisfaction inspired by the questions outlined above.
- From here, create your 2-column chart to reflect on your answers. In the left hand column, mark down all of the things you want more of in your work and career. This can include things that make you happy, motivated and energized. In the right hand column, mark down all of the things you want less of, feel you are missing, or that you want to remove entirely.
- For both columns, indicate which ones are rooted in the company culture vs. those that are subjective based on the team/department internally. This will help you gauge which opportunity areas are worth fixing vs. moving on from.
2/ Identify your core values:
- Reflect on both your instrumental and terminal values to create a holistic view of yourself.
- Are these values being respected in your current job, or at the very least, have the potential to be fully respected and supported in your current workplace?
- If there's a misalignment, this could be your sign to actively pursue a new path forward and weigh it against the other strategies shared in today's newsletter.
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