The Courage to Quit: Why Great People Leave Good Jobs

"People don't quit companies. People quit leaders."

Recently,?I caught up with an old friend. We were rookies in the same organization once and sat next to each other. He shared with me one of the most courageous decisions he?has ever made. After getting promoted, he tendered his resignation within a month. The reason? A toxic team culture and a boss who fostered a work environment that was unbearable, including berating team members in front of the?group. Despite his efforts to make it work, he realized that he couldn't continue in a role that drained his energy and creativity—his decision to quit, without?having?found?another?job yet, was a testament to his courage and conviction. He chose to prioritize his values and happiness over external success, even if it might take him a while to find his next station in life, as the world was going through?a?global financial crisis?at?that time.

In Christie Lindor's insightful TED Talk, "Why Great People Quit Good Jobs," she delved into the reasons why talented individuals often leave seemingly good jobs. She underscored that people don’t just leave bosses; they leave organizational cultures that lack psychological safety, work-life balance, and growth opportunities. A toxic work environment, lack of recognition, and misaligned values between employees and the organization are also key factors.

Lindor provided three tips to create a thriving company culture: 1. Prioritize culture fit in recruitment: Look for individuals who share the same values and beliefs as the company. 2. Promote accountability: Hold leaders and employees accountable for their decisions and actions. 3. Give employees a voice: Everyone feels heard, valued, and has a say in meetings.

Going back to my buddy's conversation,?we had stumbled into this topic when he shared with me a children's book he was reading to his son. The story was about a green bottle?that?asked its kiln maker why?it?wasn't as pretty as the red one. The maker replied that the green bottle chose not to go into the hotter furnace. "We are who we are because of the decisions we made," he said. That's when I asked him what the most courageous decision he made?was.

As leaders, we can influence the organizational culture. In fact,?Lindor referred to leaders as the regulators of team culture (which I think is a great phrase, particularly given what I do now). But we are also subject to the influence of our leaders, which may be beyond our control. There will?be times when we need to make bold and difficult decisions, to persist in an environment of discomfort?that?often produces unexpected growth, or whether to let go of someone or even to let go of ourselves. May our values and principles be our north star in those situations, rather than?succumb?to?the temptation of?taking the path of least resistance.

Just like a tree that needs to shed its branches to grow stronger, we too must be willing to let go of what?is holding us back as part of our personal and professional growth process. And if the tree is already in decay and perhaps beyond our influence, it may sometimes be better to graft the branch somewhere else. We are who we are today because of the decisions we made yesterday. What is the courageous decision you need to make today so that your tomorrow, and your team's, can be a brighter one?