Are you the type that stays put even though you know in your heart of hearts it’s time to leave? While they may not be obvious to everyone, there are many reasons why you might dig in your heels instead of spread your wings when it comes to initiating a job change.
Even if the job itself is boring, the compensation mediocre, and the commute less than desirable, other factors can override these aspects of your situation.
Relationships with co-workers, the comfortable familiarity with your work environment and knowledge of what is expected of you, can keep you mired in a job that no longer offers you much satisfaction.
Eventually, the truth of the matter may catch up with you. When you choose not to act on an internal impulse or desire, you could find yourself in a reactive mode. Layoffs, early retirement incentives, terminations, and outsourcing are some of the external motivators that nudge people out of their complacency.
This could be seen as a way that some people get what they really need: a catalyst to make a change for the better.
However, this method is not without some fallout. The host of mixed feelings and threat to one’s self esteem that accompanies a forced change can set people back as they require time to heal and regroup.
While being proactive in your honest assessment and follow through of your work has its own risks (e.g. there are no guarantees that the grass is greener any place else), it can create a sense of increased control of your life. If you combine that feeling with sound research about the job market and what you offer, you’re likely to be happy that you took some action.
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Barbara is currently accepting applications for her ninth annual Women's Retreat in Provence. Click on the link for photos and more details!
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Barbara and Heart At Work associate, Amy Jaffe, will co-present a workshop:
"Averting Quarterlife and Midlife Crises in Your Workplace: 5 Key Retention Strategies" at the 2008 Annual Human Resources Convention in Rockport, Maine on May 8.
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