Why should you leave a job?
Sometimes effort isn't enough
When do you know it’s the right time to leave a job?
Often moving on from one role is straightforwardly about moving into another one. It’s about becoming more senior, earning more money or doing slightly more interesting work (maybe even all three!).
But sometimes the reason we leave a role is because we’re moving away from something. And this is usually because we are unhappy with the way we’re working, which usually comes down to something culture or leadership related.
This week’s email is prompted by a conversation I had recently with someone who was thinking about quitting their job because they found working there really difficult. But they were struggling to make the leap. Yes they were miserable, but was that enough of a reason to leave?
It can be really difficult to make the decision whether to stay or go.
If the issue is the environment, or the culture, this can make it even more difficult. Maybe things will improve? Maybe there’s something we can change? Is it the right time to take the risk of trying something new? Maybe this is all my fault anyway?
Now, I'm a huge advocate of making an effort when it comes to your colleagues. It’s kind of my thing.
There is a lot that can be done to build bridges, ‘fix’ relationships at work or simply find a way to work together.
Sometimes we’re too quick to write other people off without making an effort to understand them. There is usually common ground to be found.
In any relationship or team there has to be a bit of give and take.
Different people have different working styles, different values and different ways of communicating. A good team can absorb that and make space for everyone - and they'll be stronger as a result.
But (and it's an important but) this is all predicated on people operating towards the same goal, with good intentions.
Everyone has bad days, but an individual who deals with their own insecurities by bullying others is another matter. If you're on the receiving end, it’s not your job to try and empathise.
If you feel that the culture in your workplace isn’t the right fit for you, it may be that you are the one who needs to adapt. There is more than one way to build a successful team.
But if you are in a team or workplace that feels toxic to you, then trying harder may not be the answer. Some companies and leaders create an atmosphere where they actively want people to be working against each other.
A bit of healthy competition is one thing, encouraging one individual or team to trample over others for recognition or to protect themselves from blame is quite another. There's no space to grow somewhere like that.
Sometimes there’s nothing to be gained by staying a bit longer to see if things improve.
How do you know?
Stop and ask yourself:
What's going on here? What is the problem?
What is within my sphere of control? What can I influence or change?
What impact is this having on me?
What am I learning?
What am I willing to put up with?
Sometimes if you're in a situation it can be difficult to stand back and see what's going on. If you're struggling to see the wood for the trees, talking it through with an outsider can be really useful. Choose someone who'll be honest with you - a friend, your partner or even a mentor/coach.
Talking things through can help us see things more clearly. And someone else saying "that doesn't sound ok to me" can be what we need to hear.
If there is no way for you to shift the dial, then it could be time to walk away.
Thinking about coaching
I’ve got capacity to take on two new coaching clients at the moment.
If you’re think coaching might be useful to you, I offer a completely free, no-obligation ‘discovery call’ which you can book here. This is an opportunity to chat about what you’re looking for and see if I would be a good fit.