Everyone has had one of those fantasies…you walk into your boss’ office and say “I quit.” In your mind, you picture your boss being shocked and begging you to reconsider… you are ‘way too valuable to the organization…you hear his/her apology for taking advantage of you…for giving you too much work…for not giving you enough pay… (insert your own complaint here…). Let your imagination run wild but don’t do it!
I wish this was a perfect world and that managers of people would treat their staff fairly and with integrity. Unfortunately, we know this is not true. If you are in that situation, consider your alternatives. If the job is salvageable, take action(s) to try and correct and resolve your issues with your manager. Arrange a meeting and state your case objectively and calmly.
But if you have done as much as you can or you feel there are issues that conflict with your values and/or ethics, then make plans to find another position. Especially in today’s economy when jobs are hard to come by, people who quit without a position waiting for them are looked upon with suspect by potential hiring managers. Your fantasy of quitting, then walking out the door is not a good plan. Believe it or not, but you are not irreplaceable. The company will survive. You are the one who will suffer the most, both immediately in your wallet and potentially with future references. Have you heard that it’s a small world? Your boss and your boss’ boss know a lot of people. You never know who knows who.
Take the high road. Plan ahead. Be patient, continue to do good work, and start looking. Many people wait until they can’t stand it anymore.
If things don’t change after a reasonable period of time, decide what your next job target or target company is, get your resume tuned-up, your LinkedIn profile up and running, and start looking. Too often people wait until they see their ideal job and they are not ready to make their move. Don’t let that happen to you!
Need help in getting your marketing tools ready? Call me for a free consultation!
