Sure you have some bad days. And maybe even some terrible days.
But is it time to quit your job?
Looking for a new job takes a lot of effort. Here are some questions to consider from a recent article in Harvard Business Review to help you think through whether it is time to make that change.
*Is Your Workplace Toxic? Do you have an abusive manager and is their behavior indicative of the culture? An important warning sign is if you notice your physical health taking a hit. This could include difficulty sleeping, feeling perpetually stressed, and overall just feeling exhausted. If these things ring true then you may want to plan your exit strategy.
*Do You Feel Depleted? If so, is this constant or is it the result of some unusually high volume of big projects? Are you delegating enough? Try to figure out if this is something you can manage. If not, it may be time to go.
*Are You Miserable or Bored? Persistent boredom can be depleting, so it is important to know the difference between that and true misery. If its boredom, then maybe you need a new role or talk with the boss about some growth responsibilities.
*Is There Anything About the Job that You Enjoy? If so, see if you can reorganize your responsibilities to do more of this. If not, this could be another sign that it is time to move on.
*Are You Really Giving it Your Best Effort? Are you bringing your “A” game every day with a positive attitude? If this is mostly about you then a change of scenery is really not going to help.
*Do You Need Different Work Friends? It is easy to bond over gripe sessions. Maybe you need to branch out and find some positive people. Trying to make things better if you are hanging out in an echo chamber of negativity may not work.
*Have You Tried Everything But Still Feel Awful About Work? Before you make a 100% decision to move on, take some time to check with some trusted advisors and maybe even a career coach to make sure you are not missing anything.
Is it time for you to move on? If you ask yourself these questions in a thoughtful way and feel it is time to go, then make your plan. Especially as our careers progress, we need to be very strategic about our career moves. Be sure to connect with people who have your best interest in mind as you chart your course.
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Knight, R. “Should You Quit your ‘Meh” Job or is it Salvagable?” Harvard Business Review online, April 19, 2024.
