Inevitably, when you're looking to grow in your career, you will come to a crossroads and have to decide if it is time to leave your current organization. As with most things, there are pros and cons to the approach you take. This is a very personal decision; ultimately, you must choose which option is right for you.

This episode will give help you navigate this decision.

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How do you decide to leave your current organization, or not?

Inevitably, when you are looking to grow in your career, there will come the point where you come to a crossroads and will have to decide if it is time to leave your current organization or not. There are multiple ways to increase your responsibility and impact and I do encourage you to keep your options open. As with most things, there are pros and cons to the approach you will take. This is a very personal decision, and ultimately, you will have to choose which option is right for you, given your priorities and goals in this season of your life.

I have had to make this type of decision a few times in my past, one was my decision to retire from the US Navy after 23 years, even though I was still on a positive trajectory. I made that decision mostly for my family and partly due to my health. I have been retired almost 9 years and given my current life, It’s clear that was a good choice for our family. Given the small percentage of people who have military experience, I am going to tell you about a different story from my post military life, when I discovered a new opportunity and had to make a decision to stay in an organization where I was succeeding, although after nearly ten years there over a 15-year period, I felt like my growth options were stalling. I was a civilian program manager and had been applying for the next level where I would own a portfolio of programs, rather than leading only one program team at a time. In spite of success that led to my leadership moving me from program to program due to my previous success, including for two of the flagship programs in the overall portfolio, I was not in serious consideration for that next level. This could have been for multiple reasons, including my own experience or knowledge gaps (I was very open to what I could do to learn more and become ready, if it was all me.) Some other reasons might have been 1) I was really good at tactical program management and perhaps they wanted to keep me in a role I was clearly thriving in. 2) I had known the primary person who made these type of hiring decisions since I was fairly young and inexperienced, and sometimes it is hard for people to see that you have grown – because they have known you too long. Think about your own kids, even if they become a lawyer, you might not want them to literally represent you with your legal needs. I think it is Dave Ramsey that says, no one wants to take financial advice from someone whose butt they powdered when they were babies. (Ha ha.) I think the same thing can happen when you’ve been somewhere with the same leadership over a decade or more. Sure, the leadership has grown, promoted, and evolved over that time, but sometimes they still see you as young and inexperienced, even if you have outpaced them in your own growth. So, when you’re feeling like they aren’t letting you grow, like you are hitting that celling in spite of all of your efforts, it is time to take a look at all of your options.

In this situation, when I found out about the new opportunity (which was a promotion in both salary and responsibility) I had to make a decision. I loved program management, I always felt like my team and I were making a huge and direct impact. To me, that kind of work is its own reward and motivation. The next level, managing a portfolio of programs, was always very competitive, as there were only so many positions at that level across the entire organization and once people achieved that success, many of them stayed there until they were ready to retire – so those positions were highly prized. This is an example where I had an opportunity to “take an infinite mindset”. I could either stay and wait for my turn at the table (when eventually I would be seen as having enough experience or success), or I could move to a new organization, increase my circle of friends and colleagues, and work on a completely different mission and to some degree a different customer. I 100% knew what I had to do to succeed at the current place, but I was also sure any potential promotion for me there could would take 2-5 years of paying my dues.

My hope today, is that I can share some things you should consider when making decisions like this and I will use some of my own personal examples from the process I went through when I made the leap that eventually led to where I am today.

Before we jump into the considerations, I want to talk to you about staying OR leaving for the wrong reasons.

First - If you leave poorly or for a reason that is ultimately inside of you—essentially unresolved negative thoughts – it’s very possible that soon after changing you will begin to have similar feelings and challenges at your new organization. When I am working with one of my coaching clients who is in transition, I spend a good amount of time guiding them to find joy at the current organization (in some form) before they leave. This is where a lot of growth happens and as they transition, if they do this work, they will evolve. Here are some signs that you have work to do before you leave the current organization:

1. You spend a lot of time talking about what everyone else is doing wrong, your boss, peers, new policies, etc. Of course, it is possible that you do have a bad boss, or toxic people around you, but you cannot control them, so spending your energy on all of their issues is not going to help you grow.

3. Anytime you are generally feeling angry, bitter, or very self-righteous about the current situation you have an opportunity to process your thoughts and grow from the situation. I want to be very clear, I am not saying that there isn’t a reason to feel the way you do, I am only saying that you are the only person you can control, so when you find a way to leave well – you will be amazed at how it impacts the rest of your career in a positive way. Learn to care for your long-term self in this manner.

A second, but opposite issue is when you decide to STAY for the wrong reasons. If you do your analysis and decide that the new opportunity could be a big improvement for your life and career, and it seems like the culture would be a great fit, and somewhere inside you think you might be ready a new challenge; Yet, you decide to stay where you are out of fear, comfort, or lack of self-confidence – not because you love your current organization – you are actively self-selecting to hold yourself back. You’ve just become your own biggest hurdle. Here are some signs you might notice if this is you:

1. You have dreams or thoughts about a bigger life or a different path you want to go down, but you never tell anyone about them. You think it’s better to keep it to yourself, in case no one believes that you have it in you to succeed at that other path. Instead, you do what everyone expects you to do. Quiet, dependable, always trying to meet someone else’s expectations.

2. You literally plan every step of a potential transition to an increased career. You are highly, even overly educated, for the type of role you want. You are a voracious reader and have an innovative mind and a strategic understanding of your industry, but you don’t speak up – you are afraid your ideas aren’t strong enough yet. You do plan on pursuing your desired career or position, but not now, not yet. You think you might be ready in 2-3 more years. SIDE NOTE: I have a friend who has a Ph.D, 35 years of experience and is financially secure in multiple ways. They have a dream of starting their own consulting business. I talk to them once a month, and he usually says he is reading something new, taking another course, or getting a new certification so that THEN he will be ready to start. This is fear. It’s normal. I have it too. It is much easier to keep learning and consuming information than it is to try something when you might fail. In what ways are you using certifications or education against yourself? Are you sure that is the actual roadblock?

3. You are fairly certain you will succeed if you try to change positions or make a big career transition, but there is some risk involved. So, you say you will make the change after your kids graduate college or after some other milestone. What if the bigger risk is that you teach your kids to think small? What if you could have doubled or tripled your income while you wait for the perfect time? Granted, there ways to build in safety nets, but often we wait until there is zero risk, but in reality, that moment will never arrive.

Solutions

It's common for professionals, like you, to reach a crossroad in your careers where you must decide whether to stay with your current organization or move on to a new opportunity. Here are some things to consider as you make your decision:

1. Are you being challenged in your current role? If not, it may be time for a change. On the other hand, if you feel like you're constantly being pushed outside of your comfort zone; it might be worth sticking it out a little longer. Challenges you could choose to embrace at your current organization:

a. Leadership development programs. ...

b. Regular training. ...

c. Career development services. ...

d. Tuition reimbursement. ...

e. Continuing education courses. ...

f. Feedback. ...

g. Additional responsibilities.

2. Does your current organization support your professional development? Growth opportunities: Consider whether your current organization provides opportunities for growth and development that align with your career goals. If you feel like you've hit a ceiling or there are limited opportunities for advancement, it may be time to explore new opportunities elsewhere. If not, you may want to look for an organization that does. Here are some examples of professional development support an organization might offer or at minimum, support:

a. Continuing Education.

b. Participation in professional organizations.

c. Research.

d. Improve job performance.

e. Increased duties and responsibilities.

f. Approaches to professional development:

g. Skill Based Training.

h. Job Assignments.

3. Do you have good relationships at your current organization? Company culture: Consider whether you feel a sense of belonging and alignment with the values and culture of your current organization. If you feel disconnected or that your values are not aligned with the company culture, it may be time to explore other options. If not, it might be time to move on.

a. Boss

b. Peers

c. Other Colleagues

d. Direct reports

e. Other departments / divisions

f. CEO and / or other senior leadership

4. Is your current organization going through some changes? If so, it might be worth staying put until things settle down.

a. Downsizing

b. Restructuring

c. Realigning

d. Leadership shifts

e. Dramatic growth?

5. Are you looking for a promotion?

a. Internal opportunities

b. External opportunities

6. Do you want more responsibility? If so, you may need to look for a new organization that can offer you that.

a. Other industries

b. Small companies

c. Start-ups

d. Government

e. Non-profits

7. Do you want more impact? If so, you may need to leave your current organization in order to find one that will allow you to have the impact you desire. Job satisfaction: Consider whether you feel fulfilled and satisfied in your current role. If you're not happy or find that your job is not aligned with your skills and passions, it may be time to consider other opportunities.

a. What impact do you want to make?

b. What are your passions, hobbies, special talents?

c. What changes do you want to see in the world?

8. Compensation and benefits: Consider whether you are fairly compensated for your skills and experience, and whether your benefits package is competitive with industry standards. If you feel that your compensation or benefits are not adequate, it may be time to explore other options.

9. Which opportunity best supports your desired life? Consider whether your current organization allows you to live the overall life you want to be living. If you feel overworked, stressed, or that you don't have enough time for personal or family activities, it may be time to explore other opportunities.

Activity

Ok, if you have been feeling like it is time to consider leaving, I have five questions I want you to work through before you make any decisions, one way or the other:

1. What type of overall life do you want to be living 2-5 years from now? How about 10 years from now? Write all the thoughts you have about this in your journal. (Let yourself dream!)

2. Think about your life today. How close is your current life to the life you want in question one?

3. If you feel stuck in your current position, after listening to this episode, what seems to be holding you in place?

4. Have any new opportunities recently caught your eye? Have you heard about a position that has piqued your interest? Write a few sentences about what it is and why you are interested.

5. Think about the considerations in this episode and write about which position (your current position or your dream position) would best support your desires in each category: Challenges, Professional Development, Culture, Organizational change, promotion opportunities, changes in responsibility, increased impact, compensation, and of course --- which one best enables your desired life. Write your thoughts about each of these areas in relation to the new opportunity vs. your current position.

It is always a great idea to talk to your executive coach about these thoughts, once you have them captured.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to leave your current organization is a very personal one. It depends on your personal goals, values, and priorities. If you take the time to carefully consider your options, with an open mind, you’ll be surprised at all that is available to you. Carefully consider your options and make a decision that aligns with your long-term life and career goals. Keep your focus on what is right for you and your family in this season of your life. This is a great topic for a session with your executive coach!

I believe in you and know that you can find success either way, I just want to make sure that you are staying intentionally or if you leave, that you are leaving for the right reasons and leaving with class.

I’d love if you’d send me an email for some accountability: If you decide to intentionally stay, get in my DMs on IG and tell me you are staying in your organization and WHY. If you decide it is time to leave, send me a DM and tell me why you decided to leave, why you love your reasons, and HOW you plan to leave with class.

I can’t wait to hear from you!