We've all had bad days at the office; maybe even a couple bad weeks, but how do we know when it’s really time to leave? Well, if you can’t remember the last good day you’ve had at work, it’s probably time to start considering making a chance. The best coaching tip I can give is to evaluate your career progression and opportunities on an on-going basis to be ready when it’s time to make a move. Many of us have been raised on the notion that quitting is bad and the mantra “Winners never quit. Quitters never win.” In his Knox College Commencement Speech in 2005 President Obama said “America is a land of big dreamers and big hopes” and continued to inspire the students to seek more than just making money saying “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself.” So while hard work, discipline and perseverance are great virtues, our efforts need to be aligned with a greater value. Winners know when to quit and do so for all of the right reasons. They recognize a change is needed to focus on the “big rocks”, the right things, to pursue meaning, happiness, and continued growth. In his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” Covey introduces the metaphor of the big rocks. How many rocks would fill a glass jar? Once all the big rocks are in, there’s room for more pebbles. And then there’s still more room for sand to fill the space between the rocks and the pebbles. But even though it seems like the jar is completely full, it could still hold some water until it gets full to the brim. In both our business and personal life, we have rocks, pebbles, sand and water. Rocks are the most important things that give meaning to our life, what truly matters. The pebbles are those things that are important but not as meaningful. The sand and water are the day-to-day activities that fill our days but are not critical to who we are and what we are meant to be and to do. In the context of making any changes, we need to ask ourselves whether we are putting the big rocks in first, or let pebbles, sand and water dominate our decisions. In anything we do, the big rocks must be in place first; otherwise they will never fit in. So if you think about making a career change, be sure to consider the big rocks in your life and whether you are being true to yourself in the work that you do. In my experience coaching clients through career changes, these are the top 3 reasons people start seeking greener pastures: Relationship with Boss/Poor Leadership The relationship with the immediate supervisor is often the No. 1 reason why people jump ship. As the old saying goes ” people quit leaders, not companies.” Employees may be lured by high pay and generous benefits package, but it is their relationship with the immediate manager and senior leaders that determines how long they stay. A happy workplace should buzz with energy. Poor leadership creates a challenging work environment that if left unmanaged deteriorates into a negative corporate culture. When you look forward and can’t see yourself with the company in 12 months, it’s time to start looking for your next job. Stagnation & Loss of Joy The job becomes a chore and the passion is gone; you no longer care about the work you are doing and the company. You have been in your role for a while, but you are not assigned interesting and meaningful work that would allow you to develop your skills and learn new ones. You have more to offer, but there are no opportunities for growth and development. In a perfect world, we would all be able to do exactly what we want and love our job 100% of the time. For some people this is a reality, but for many the dream job wouldn’t pay the bills. However, if you can’t find the right balance and only live for the weekends, it might be time to start considering other options. Work-Life Balance (or lack thereof) There’s nothing wrong with working long(er) hours when needed. However, when the job takes over your life impacting your personal life and the relationship with loved ones, it’s time to take stock and re-evaluate priorities. And when the job is affecting your health and happiness, it’s time to consider your employment options. If you start experiencing chronic health-related issues due to stress at work, you may need to make some changes in your life. And when it’s time for a change, listen to your gut feelings. If you've been thinking about quitting for some time, it may be time to listen to that little voice and take the leap. Change isn’t easy, but you deserve to be happy. Imagine bouncing out of bed every morning bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and excited to start a new day.
