If you think change is hard, try having to deal with becoming irrelevant –Tom Peters
Clients often come to me when they find their situation at work unbearable. Bad boss, stagnant career, constant firefighting, backstabbing colleagues, no growth prospects with never-ending promises for a promotion, morally challenged management, and so on. And, this is just a partial list!
The main questions most clients struggle with before coming to me for advice is when should they make the change and how do they know that they are making a change for the better!
Good questions!
In addition to the above list, which is a compilation of external factors, there is also an equally important list of internal factors; factors that arise from your own internal compass that can prompt you to consider a change and to make a plan for its implementation. In this blog I’d like to list some of the more common reasons—for both internal and external factors—to guide you through this process.
External Factors:
Stagnant Career: This includes many of the factors that are a combination of the environment in which your group, department, or company operates. This can include constant management churn, so every time you have a new boss you start all over again with your act to impress them with your value; writing off all the promises made by the previous manager. In such situations the best approach is to look for opportunities in the existing environment to showcase your value to the organization, not just to milk it for any value that will mobilize your career where you are now. This is more to put a shine on your résumé to make it more saleable and less to get anything out from where you are.
These accomplishments can help you build your momentum to catapult you out of the stagnant orbit at your existing job. Also, when things are chaotic and in a flux, it is much easier to wheedle someone in a position of power into assigning a juicy task that you can leverage into a stellar accomplishment on your résumé.
Bad Boss: This is yet another factor that is common in many careers that require careful attention. Studies have shown that nearly 70% of the bosses are incompetent, dysfunctional, or undesirable. So, chances are great that you’ll run into a worse boss as your next manager. In such cases the best strategy is to learn how do deal with such adversity and to develop your own strategies to cope with them positively, right where you are now. This will prepare you to better deal with the next boss from hell in a positive way no matter where you land. When making your selection rounds with other companies think of a good reason for your leaving, without bringing your relationship with your current boss.
Backstabbing Colleagues: This factor is more prevalent in most companies than most realize. So, the best strategy is to recognize this factor and to learn to work with the errant colleague to communicate your observations and concerns. Set parameters for your interactions and expectations and then enforce them. If the situation does not improve, at least you have learned how to deal with it forthrightly, should you have a need to in your next job; and you will.
Internal Factors:
Dead-end Skill set: In an industry where technology is changing rapidly and you feel left behind, the best strategy is to recognize this early on and to try to find avenues to get on board with the tasks that emerging technologies offer, either inside your company or by looking for outside opportunities. If you have to go outside, the first priority should be to get some certifications in the right subjects so that your résumé has the right language that will allow you to get in front of the hiring managers. Even if you have to accept a lower-level position in the technology area that is rapidly growing it is often worth the temporary setback in view of its long-term benefit.
The above discussion is only a part of the rationale for making a change. The main factor in this discussion is, however, how to set yourself up for making this change to your advantage than otherwise. What this approach requires most is a mindset that allows you to create a springboard for a better transition than merely packing up and leaving out of sheer frustration, which often results in compromising your career—or even a career suicide. A little thought, planning, and methodical approach can result in creating the right outcome without suffering undue career setbacks when making such a change.
Good luck!