Three simple things you can do to ensure you make the best choice and emerge strong during ‘The Great Resignation’ Wave?
The pandemic had created uncertainty in our lives. It has been a difficult period for everyone, and some of us are lucky to have our jobs intact. There was no predefined recipe to get through this uncertainty, and none of us prepared for this kind of event. We spent most of our time sitting at home with only online interactions. This new normal, without a doubt, impacted the physical and mental health and well-being of everyone.
A recent report in Harvard study “Who is driving the great resignation” finds
“resignation rates are highest among mid-career employees and in technology and health care industries”.
We go through highs and lows in our careers and personal lives, and sometimes it feels like we are stuck & not progressing as much as we want to.
How do we ensure that we emerge stronger from this situation in a way that benefits us, given the amplifying effect this pandemic has on us?
Without adding to the already complicated situation simply accomplishing these 3 things before making that decision will put us on the proper course of action.
1: Clarify your purpose, goals and priorities.
The way to do this activity is a) List out your career and personal goals b) Set priority for each goal d) select the top 3 goals
Is your current career/job aligned with at least one of the goals?
Ex: You would like to sort out a health problem in the next six months, you probably will not be able to work on an initiative or project that requires hustling and extra hours. It might be better to work on a project with a lean period to concentrate on your health.
This activity can help you gain clarity and purpose for the next few years, as well as pinpoint the reason you feel trapped in your current job/career. You may also decide to take a month’s break or a sabbatical for some time instead of resigning.
See the below post for more details and a downloadable excel sheet.
2: Work on one of the top three organizational initiatives.
Choose an initiative that is one of the top three priorities in your organization, or something that is a priority for your boss or your senior leadership team. Ensure that the initiative is aligned with your objectives as well. Aligning the initiative with our goals and priorities provides the required spirit and confidence to complete the project successfully.
This is the best advice I’ve ever received from a senior executive, and it’s helped me tremendously.
Working on top organization initiatives will provide you with the visibility you need to advance to the next level and break free from the sense of being trapped in your current position.
3. Assess, plan & prepare for change
If you don’t find an initiative you can work on or that can help you achieve your goals, the next step is to plan for a change.
The change does not have to be a job change; change can take many forms.
a) Role change in the current organization, talk to your boss to find if that is a possibility.
b) Location change, look for a location change is this something organization can support you
c) Job change, if the role change options do not work, look for a job change if that is the option that can help with your goals
d) Career change, if the role/job change does not work, think if you need to change your career altogether, maybe it’s time to work on your passion.
Summary
Before you resign from your current job,
1: Clarify your purpose, goals and priorities.
2: Work on one of the top three organizational initiatives.
3. Assess, plan & prepare for change
Ensure you have explored the available options before deciding to change, do not leave it to chance and end up in the same situation as before.
Thank you for reading this article — I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to comment, share it and let me know what you think about it.
