💼 I'm definitely quitting....one day.

Is it time to go?
So many of my clients are thinking about looking for a new job or actively interviewing right now.
There’s a lot of movement in the market. 

Sometimes folks are ready to leave their jobs because they don’t see a growth path ahead. Sometimes they don’t feel like their current job is a culture match. For some, the pandemic changed priorities in ways that staying in their current job isn’t a match for what they value in their lives. Still others have seen a professional life they want to create for themselves and even used the last year to build skills and networks to start on a new road.

Whatever the reason, deciding to look for a new role can be a big step. 

Most curiously, I’ve also seen many folks interview, get new job offers, and decide to stay put. Although we think the grass is greener in a different company or with a different manager, once we start down the interviewing path we may see that "different" isn’t always better.

When clients come to me for professional changes, we spend some time unpacking the issues at work. When you have a chance to get some distance on how work is going for you, you have a clear sense of what needs to change - including within yourself. Then you can act in new ways. When you approach the old job and the old challenges in new ways, you get different results - or become much more clear on what's not working anymore.

How do I know?

Here are a few things to help you navigate the decisions around leaving your job. 

1. Assess your current role to see what you can learn and what’s actually in your control. With these two elements, you can piece together what (if anything) you could have to gain by staying.

2. Get clear about what you want. Sometimes the job is working for everyone...except you. We can be overly loyal or stuck in situations where everyone is happy about your work and your performance...while you’re feeling quite miserable.

3. Talk with others in your industry. It's easy, especially right now, to be consumed by our day-to-day work. Take some time to get a better sense of what’s going on broadly in your industry or in your network. Sometimes surprising connections and opportunities come out of these discovery phases.

4. If you decide on an interview, give it your all. Casual conversations are one thing, but if you are interviewing, give the interview process the attention and honestly it deserves. Continue to have clarity about what you’re looking for so that if you find a match, you'll have more confidence the new opportunity is checking the boxes that you personally value. 

5. If you decide to stay at your job for now, write down the reasons you’ll stay. Be specific. Set a date when you’ll check in again to see if you’re moving in the right direction. That can help you reassure yourself that you’ll stay on track without lingering somewhere too long.

Things to do before you want to leave your job:

When people are completely over their job and desperate to find a new role fast, they regret not doing a better job keeping up with professional networks or professional organizations. No one has "extra" time, but reserving a little time consistently can go a long way in keeping your network alive. 

• Spend an hour a month dropping folks a note to say "hello"

• Or set up one "catch up" with someone in your network each month

• Or find one professional organization you can commit to and/or contribute to 

Dive Deeper

Leading with Heart: Leadership Circle. I've been talking about starting a circle for a while now....and here it is. Co-hosted with my friend and fellow coach, Frank Marquardt, we'll be meeting four times this October to unpack how we can lead authentically while building resilience during uncertain times. This circle is meant for folks navigating team leadership and the change that comes with it. Learn more.

Reconsidering:  On the topic of satisfying lives, check out Reconsidering - a new podcast that explores navigating your personal and professional life through the lens of your values. Great hosts including my friend Meredith Black Brant, it sounds like an exciting line up dropping this fall. 

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Could you benefit from 1:1 coaching? I always keep a spot or two free for new clients → [Let’s talk!] 

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