How to Know It's Time to Quit Your Job
Natalya Tarasova
Helping You Find and Lead Your Path | Insightful Guidance Meets Bold Exploration | Coaching for Deep, Lasting Growth
I knew that I had to make a change after months of feeling emotionally detached from my work and instead dreaming of something different. I didn't know quite yet how exactly this would look like. But I had a strong longing for more freedom, creative expression and purpose.
The realisation that I wanted to quit didn't happen overnight in my case, it was a long process. This process consists of 5 different stages, and identifying where you are at in your process, can help create the right strategy for you.
The 5 Stage of Realising It's Time for a Change:
1. Unconscious:
At this stage, you might feel a general sense of dissatisfaction without understanding why. You go through the motions at work, but there's a lingering feeling that something is off.
2. Denial:
You start looking for reasons to stay, finding the best logical arguments to make the case against change. You might think, “The benefits are good,” or “I’ve been here for so long; starting over seems scary.”
3. Conflicting Stage:
This stage is marked by internal conflict. One day, you accept the need to make a change; the next, you resist it. This back-and-forth can be mentally exhausting. As one of my client's said: "When doubts crept in, I would question if I really wanted a change. It was like a pendulum."
4. Awareness:
You become more conscious of your dissatisfaction and start exploring other possibilities. At this stage you start seeing opportunities and dream about a different life. You might research new career paths or take up side projects to test the waters. I held onto my old job for a while, trying to figure out a safe escape. I was not feeling confident to just quit and start building my own business. Instead I started planning for it.
5. Decision-Making:
Finally, you reach a point where you decide whether to stay or go. This stage involves planning your exit strategy and preparing for the transition. In this stage you “just“ know, it’s not even an intellectual reasoning, it is an integrated feeling of being ready for a new phase.
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The duration of each stage can last from weeks to years. For example, I spent 9 months in the decision-making stage. Some people (actually the majority) will get stuck at one of the stages and NEVER create a desired change.
Reflection Exercise for Enhanced Clarity:
The process requires time and reflection. It also requires inner commitment. Here are some questions to help you reflect:
After doing this reflection, what is the next small step you can commit to in order to make a desired change in your life?
Is It Time to Make a Change?
If you resonate with any of the stages mentioned above or if you frequently find yourself daydreaming about a different career, it might be time to consider a change. To gain more clarity, reflect on your answers to the questions provided above, assess your current job satisfaction, and explore your options; here you find free resources to do so: https://www.tarasovacoaching.com/store.
Many of my clients come in a phase where they are not sure yet about next move, feeling overwhelmed and stuck. If you feel ready to gain clarity and take the next step, I would be love to support you. Book a free 30-minute clarity call with me today to start your journey towards a more empowered and fulfilling life. Click here to schedule your call: https://calendar.app.google/wMHXWkGjWsgUDpmE9.
Making a change is a significant decision, but with the right support for the stage you are in, you can move toward a career that aligns with your true self and brings you satisfaction.
As a final word, I would like to share a quote that captures nicely the essence of what we need when in doubt:
What is always important is that we never try to force anything in situations where there seems at first to be no way to move. We must just create space for ourselves, for the mind.
From The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T. K. V. Desikachar
I wish you a successful discovery and graceful path towards your dreams.
Natalya Tarasova
Highly Accomplished Sr. Executive Leader & Portfolio Director | Gifted Visionary, Coach & Strategic Advisor | Culture People Risk Change Program Expert | Portfolio Best Practice | LinkedIn Top Voice | Board Member | EPMO
6 个月It is important to analyze these steps, which takes self-awareness. There were roles where I was bored after 12 months. These are individual timeframes. Somebody can be content in the same role for years. Once there is no learning and growth, that is a dead end for me.?
Former VP Operational Excellence at Shell, now helping you to excel!
6 个月Don't know much about the science, but always felt that staying more than three years in a role wasn't any good for either you or the company! You were in the need of new challenges to continue learn, develop and grow and the company was losing out when you were loosing sharpness and things slowly became routine! Nobody was really happy!
CEO and management consultant @Monday Mind.
6 个月Great article Natalya Tarasova describing a journey many of us go through (but often without the self-reflection and more the feeling of being inside a ?????)
Understanding the stages of change and applying the right strategies is so important.
Helping places & brands upgrade & attract the right people with strategies supporting communities ?| Inspiring people to design a life they're excited about ??| 8+ years of location-independence & full-time travel
6 个月So important to know when it's time to move on. It's not always easy, especially if you're thinking about taking a less traditional route or if you're feeling ok but just have a sense that things could be better... So important to do some inner work and clarify what matters to you. Then it's easier to see clearer and understand whether your job matches that :)