There’s nothing inherently wrong with saying sayonara to your current job. With the right timing and the right strategy for dealing with your disappointed employer, leaving your gig may even turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made. We’re totally supportive of any decision that will advance your career and help you feel like the boss you are, so if it’s quittin’ time, go ahead and quit! That said, resigning is a pretty big deal, and there are many common workplace issues that (while certainly frustrating and problematic) are probably not grounds for doing so in and of themselves. Tracey Jones — president of professional development firm Tremendous Leadership — shared with us seven such reasons. If any of these problems are plaguing you from nine-to-five, see if you can get creative about solving them before you give up entirely.
1. You’re not crazy about your coworkers. Having a friend to sit next to in meetings and chat with at the water cooler is (of course) a perk at any workplace, but, according to Jones, lacking that special someone — or even working on a full team of people you don’t even like — is no reason to hand in your notice. Instead, address the individual colleagues that are actually causing a problem so that you can move forward. “If there’s one person in particular that you can’t stand, make adjustments in your location, schedule, or team projects to limit your interactions with that person,” Jones suggests.
2. Your hours are too long. Time management — not overwork — may be the real issue at hand. “Before you leave because of this, take stock of how you use your time, both on and off the job,” Jones says. “I guarantee that you can cut out waste in both areas.”
3. You don’t love all of your work. “You’re not going to love 100 percent of your job 100 percent of the time,” Jones reminds us. “Take a closer inventory of how much time you spend on the things you don’t enjoy and try to reduce it. Talk to your boss about focusing more on the things you love.” There has to be something in your job description that excites you — and if there’s not, then you really might have a problem and grounds for leaving.
4. You didn’t get the promotion. We want you to get every single promotion you deserve (and we totally trust that you deserve it), but we also want you to stay level-headed about how quickly career advancement happens for lady bosses everywhere. According to the employee engagement survey, more than half of employees believe they don’t have the advancement opportunities they’re looking for right now. “Instead of quitting, make sure your boss is aware of your career goals and set up a plan to reach the next rung,” encourages Jones. If after you and your boss have communicated about your ambitions they still don’t walk their talk on helping you grow your responsibilities, you may then decide to set your sights elsewhere.
5. You’re unhappy. In addition to wanting you to get promoted, we want you to have every happiness in the world, but again — it’s important to be reasonable. See if you can break down your workplace frustrations into smaller pieces, so you can tackle each item instead of feeling overwhelmed with general misery. “Pinpoint what exactly is making you unhappy and develop solutions to fix those specific things,” Jones advises.
6. You’re not getting enough credit. If you feel like you’re not sufficiently acknowledged for the awesome work you’re doing, you’re not alone. According to a global survey on the state of employee engagement (updated in real time — so cool!), close to two-thirds of employees agree that their work isn’t being adequately recognized either. If you’re craving more feedback from your boss, Jones recommends requesting face time with them on a monthly or quarterly basis… “But be careful, because your mistakes will come up too.” Many bosses will be too busy to give you the credit you so sorely crave, so don’t make any major decisions about your current place of work thinking that a new employer will solve the problem. Odds are it won’t.
7. Your boss is demanding. There’s no excuse for a boss who is abusive — verbally or otherwise — but there’s a difference between being treated inappropriately and simply being pushed to a higher standard. Before you throw in the towel, consider how reporting to someone demanding can make you better at your job. “A mean boss gives you an opportunity to work on your customer service skills,” Jones offers. “There is a lot to gain in a situation like this if you change your perspective a bit.” If a challenging supervisor is your only complaint at work, this shift in perspective may be just what you need to make you love your job (or at least like it) all over again.
What obstacles would get you to say goodbye to your gig? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Getty)