Should You Stay or Should You Go

Welcome to The Clear-Eyed View! Whether you're new here or have been with me since day one (it’s only week seven!), I’m thrilled to have you. Each week, I dive into a relevant work topic, sharing insights from my experience to help you navigate your career with clarity and confidence. Reply to this email to share your feedback or say hello. I’d love to hear from you!

In Today’s Newsletter (6 min read):

• Clear-Eyed Perspective: When to leave your job

Should You Stay or Should You Go?

Seven jobs in 15 years. Some might call that job-hopping. I call it strategic career building. Here’s what I’ve learned about deciding to move on—and how you can confidently figure out when it’s time to make a change.

Odds are, some of you are considering leaving your job. At the start of 2024, 46% of professionals said they were planning to quit their jobs before the end of the year.

Advice like leaving when you feel burnt out or stagnant can be helpful, but it often misses the bigger picture. Instead of reacting emotionally, take a step back and evaluate whether your role aligns with your top career priorities.

So, how can you take an unemotional approach to decide when to move on?

(*Before moving on, consider taking this quick assessment that guides you through the steps outlined below. I am piloting this here, so feel free to tell me what you think!)

Step 1: Assess your top 3 priorities in your career today.

Everyone’s career goes through phases. In each phase, you’re optimizing for something different.

When I was starting, I didn’t know what I was good at or where I wanted to take my career. I was in discovery mode. My top three priorities then were enjoying my day-to-day work, having a social impact, and working with good people.

Today, my life looks drastically different. My three priorities are compensation, flexibility, and company culture.

Why limit it to just three priorities?

Because focusing on the most critical things keeps you grounded. Anchoring bias often leads us to focus on irrelevant information when making a difficult decision, leading to a lack of focus. Plus, no job is perfect. Clarifying what truly matters also helps you avoid chasing something that doesn’t exist.

Step 2: Assess your current role against your top priorities

Once you’ve nailed down your priorities, assess your current role. How well does it meet your top three priorities? Here are some questions to ask as you reflect on whether your current role fulfills your top priorities.

After reflecting, rate each of your top priorities as:

• Very fulfilled: 80%-100%

• Somewhat fulfilled: 50%-80%

• Unfulfilled: <50%

For example, in my current role, I feel I’m paid fairly, I have the flexibility I need to support my family, and the culture at Ellevation is the healthiest I’ve ever experienced. I am very fulfilled in all three of my priorities so I’m staying put.

Note: There are only two situations where you should consider leaving immediately, no matter how aligned your job is with your priorities:

1. Your physical or mental health is severely at risk.

2. You’ve experienced a serious ethical violation.

In these rare but critical cases, prioritize your well-being and leave as quickly as possible.

Step 3: Assess your results and create an action plan

After assessing your role, there are three possible outcomes:

Option 1: Your job meets your priorities.

• Stay focused on contributing as much value as possible.

• Don’t spend time job searching unless a “once in a lifetime” opportunity arises.

Option 2: Your job somewhat meets your priorities.

• Work with your manager to address any mismatches. Don’t forget to say what you want.

• Keep an eye out for unique roles that fully align with your priorities.

Option 3: Your job doesn’t meet your priorities.

• Partner with your manager to improve your current situation while actively applying for roles that are a better fit.

Set a action plan for whichever option fits you best. For example, if your role meets your priorities, you should focus on doing your best work, identifying learning opportunities, and staying prepared for unexpected opportunities.

Are you wondering why I recommended taking a call for a “once in a lifetime opportunity” even if your role fulfills all of your priorities?

Even if your priorities are fulfilled, you never know what can happen. There are far too many horror stories of people who were too comfortable, got complacent, and were forced to leave their roles with no potential prospects.

Some Mistakes to Avoid

In a 2022 survey, 80% of respondents regretted leaving their jobs. To be in the 20%, avoid these common mistakes:

• Grass is greener syndrome: Thinking anything is better than your current job, only to face similar challenges in the next one.

• Running away instead of running toward: Focusing more on leaving than finding something meaningful.

• Failing to ask for what you want: Not having open conversations with your manager about things that can be changed.

• Chasing money: Letting a big paycheck distract you from a poor culture or a role you don’t actually want.

• Skipping due diligence: Not asking hard questions during interviews to ensure the new role aligns with your priorities.

If you can avoid these mistakes, you’re making a more sound and confident decision.

Final Takeaway - Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New

Deciding when to leave your job is about strategy, not emotion. Trust your decision if your role no longer aligns with your top priorities and you’ve done the work to confirm it.

Interviewing and starting something new can be intimidating, but the confidence and flow from being in a role that fits your life priorities is worth it.

Your career is built on a series of deliberate choices. Keep your priorities front and center, avoid chasing perfection, and always stay open to opportunities that align with what matters most to you.

Feel free to reach out if you’re wrestling with this decision and need a second opinion. I’m happy to help you take a clear-eyed approach to your career.

Didn’t take the assessment earlier? Take the Should You Stay or Should You Go evaluation here!