9 warnings to be sure it's time to leave.

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door - Milton Berle

People love to argue about the importance of work. However, work is important, and it provides a path for creating a remarkable life. I argue, satisfying work is essential for increased happiness!

Most people spend 40 plus hours per week trapped in a benign work environment that provides little mental or intrinsic stimulation.

When bad leadership intersects with demanding occupations, the consequences are severe. 

A study by the American Psychological Association found that people subjected to bad management and demanding jobs experience; exhaustion, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression.

Remaining at a bad job can have detrimental side effects for your health and professional future.

Deciding to leave a job can be overwhelming. Finding clarity can be elusive, but essential for making the right decision. 

Here are 9 signs it’s time to move on.

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle - Steve Jobs

The business is failing. 75% of all small businesses shut down within 10 years. If your companies viability is in danger, it’s usually obvious. Watch for signs and act expeditiously so you aren’t the victim of entrepreneurial atrophy.

The chance for promotion is dead. It’s easy to get comfortable. However, upward mobility and professional growth is essential for job satisfaction. We all need to keep learning to stay stimulated. If you’re on a dead-end street, start paving a new path.

The communication doesn’t include you. When you feel alienated from individual time with key decision makers, sequestered from project innovation and the last to know when news breaks, beware. It could be a sign your value is underappreciated.

The “boss” is a dummy. It’s irritating when you honestly feel you’re the smartest one in the room. Exceptional leaders have a collection of remarkable people that keeps everyone challenged. Insecure bosses like hiring inferior people that validate their fragile ego. If you’re intuition says; the company lacks direction, it probably does. In addition, your talents may be “too much” for a weak leader to tolerate as they wrestle with insecurities.

The “boss” is bad but loved by the right people. Sometimes bad bosses kiss enough butt to achieve self-preservation. Although uninspiring, rude, ineffective, they survive by flattering the right people. Pretentious and disingenuous they make life miserable, and there’s no hope for improvement. It’s time to investigate new opportunities.

The job is making you miserable. The Monday morning blues can creep up on all of us. To be honest, I’ve been an entrepreneur for 34 years, I love Mondays! However, if you consistently have “bad weeks”, it might be the job that’s weighing you down.

The passion is gone. Even if you’re fortunate enough to love your company, your boss and the money, the work may be uninspiring. If the work doesn’t keep you enthusiastic, it’s time to reexamine your future.

The stress is affecting your health. No amount of money, prestige or title is worth failing health. Job related stress can result in depression, insomnia, chronic headaches, and debilitating illness. Avoid this by recognizing when work is ruining you.

The job is destroying your personal life. When your personal and intimate relationships suffer because of job related stress, it’s time to explore a new career path. No job is worth loosing close relationships over.

There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living - Nelson Mandela

Sum it up

When you decide to quit your job, be smart about it. Don’t allow your emotions to get the best of you and blow up bridges lamenting about everything and everyone you dislike. Leave gracefully and resist doing anything that has lingering consequences.

Anything you can add to this short list of suggestions for realizing its time to leave an unpleasant position? Please like and share this article and include your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you, I love learning from you as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn!